At least 18 suspected Ebola patients fled a hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo after grieving families attacked and set parts of the treatment centre on fire.
The incident happened at Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital in Ituri province, the centre of the ongoing Ebola outbreak that has already claimed at least 220 lives since it was declared earlier this month.
According to medical officials, angry residents attacked the hospital multiple times over the weekend, burning tents set up by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and attempting to forcefully retrieve the bodies of relatives who died from the virus.
Doctors said four of the escaped patients were later tested, with one confirmed positive for Ebola. Hospital director Dr Richard Lokodu warned that the confirmed patient was still moving around in the community, increasing fears of further spread.
Another critically ill patient reportedly died while trying to escape during one of the attacks. Health officials say misinformation and distrust are fuelling resistance to Ebola measures, with some residents believing the virus is fake or being used by hospitals for financial gain.
The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak is now “outpacing” response efforts, while neighbouring Uganda has confirmed additional Ebola cases involving health workers in Kampala. The current Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, making containment efforts even more difficult.
