One dead after security forces open fire during Ebola burial in Congo, sources say
One person has been killed and several others injured after security forces opened fire to quell unrest during the burial of a suspected Ebola victim in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday, according to two sources.
The incident occurred at Katula-Paida cemetery in Beni, North Kivu province, an area that has recently recorded a rise in Ebola infections.
A member of the city’s Ebola response team said the burial team was preparing to inter the body in accordance with Ebola safety protocols when some residents demanded to see the deceased. They reportedly questioned whether the person had died from the virus.
Tensions subsequently escalated, prompting security personnel escorting the burial team to fire shots in an attempt to control the situation, the source said.
The response team member and a health official, both speaking anonymously, confirmed that at least one person had died and several others had been wounded.
Two health officials said investigations were ongoing to determine the full casualty toll and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The violence is the latest in a series of attacks targeting burial teams and other Ebola responders, highlighting continuing mistrust among local residents.
The outbreak, which was declared on May 15, has infected 7,820 people and claimed 3,779 lives, according to government figures released on Wednesday.
Source: Reuters
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