Ituri Bans Gatherings After Ebola Protest Burns 2 Hospital Tents
Updated
Updated · CNN · May 24
Ituri Bans Gatherings After Ebola Protest Burns 2 Hospital Tents
13 articles · Updated · CNN · May 24
Two hospital tents burned at Rwampara Hospital after relatives of a young Ebola victim tried to seize his body by force, prompting Ituri authorities to ban public gatherings and wakes.
Traditional funerals are a major transmission risk because Ebola corpses are highly infectious, and officials say misinformation and disbelief about the disease are undermining mask use and other precautions.
At least 177 deaths have been linked to the outbreak, with nearly 750 suspected cases in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as infections spread from rural areas to Bunia and Goma.
WHO on Friday raised the risk to "very high" in DRC and "high" regionally, warning cases will keep rising as conflict, mass displacement and weak health services hamper the response.
With no vaccine for this deadly Ebola strain, how vulnerable is the world to a global outbreak ahead of the FIFA World Cup?
In a conflict zone with 120 armed groups, is deep-seated distrust, not the virus, the biggest barrier to stopping Ebola?
As a new Ebola strain spreads, why are billions in approved US humanitarian funds reportedly being withheld from global crises?
Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak in Congo: 750 Suspected Cases, 177 Deaths, and a Regional Emergency in May 2026
Overview
In May 2026, the Ebola outbreak in Congo’s Ituri province quickly became a crisis when the rare Bundibugyo virus spread undetected for weeks. Authorities first tested for a more common strain and missed early cases, causing delays in detection. As a result, suspected cases and deaths rose sharply, fueling public anxiety and distrust. This tension led to violent protests, including attacks on healthcare facilities, which further disrupted the emergency response. The combination of delayed diagnosis, rapid disease spread, and community resistance created major challenges for health workers trying to contain the outbreak.