Congo Province Bans Funeral Wakes to Contain Ebola's Spread
Last update: May 22, 2026
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Authorities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have imposed a ban on funeral wakes in a bid to contain the spread of Ebola, following violent clashes between residents and police over the handling of a victim’s body.
According to cbinews.tv, the decision comes as the Ituri province, one of the worst-hit areas in the current Ebola outbreak, grapples with both a public health emergency and ongoing insecurity.
Local officials announced the restriction after an incident in Rwampara town, where residents attempted to reclaim a body from authorities, leading to clashes with police. The situation has drawn comparisons to past outbreaks in the region, where similar tensions hampered response efforts.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain as a public health emergency of international concern, citing its late detection, lack of a vaccine, and the difficult security situation in eastern DRC.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths have been recorded so far, with additional confirmed cases reported in neighbouring Uganda.
He warned that figures are still evolving as surveillance and testing improve, but insecurity continues to slow down response operations.
Eastern DRC remains volatile, with multiple armed groups operating in the region, including the Rwanda-backed M23 group, which has previously seized key territories where cases have been detected.
Under the new provincial directive, burials must now be handled only by specialised health teams. The transport of bodies by non-medical vehicles has also been banned.
Authorities further limited public gatherings to 50 people and suspended the local football league as part of wider containment measures.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, causing symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and body aches.
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