Young men storm Congo Ebola hospital, demand bodies of kin

The Story

A local hospital official reports that angry young men stormed Monbgwalu General Hospital in eastern Congo on Sunday evening, demanding the bodies of their relatives. The attack forced medical staff to evacuate patients as gunfire was heard, and it is the third such incident on health facilities in a week.

Key Facts

• The attack occurred at Monbgwalu General Hospital, which is treating Ebola patients at the heart of the latest outbreak.
• Dr. Richard Lokudu, the hospital’s medical director, told The Associated Press that attackers demanded two bodies of their kin be handed over.
• It was not immediately known if anyone was hurt, and Lokudu said the hospital was on general alert.
• On Saturday, a group of residents attacked and set fire to a Doctors Without Borders tent in Mongbwalu; 18 suspected Ebola patients left and are unaccounted for.
• On Thursday, a treatment center in Rwampara was burned after family members were banned from retrieving a body.
• Congolese authorities have mandated that burial of suspected Ebola victims be managed by authorities; funerals and gatherings of more than 50 people are banned.
• The Congolese Ministry of Communication reported 904 suspected Ebola cases, a jump from over 700; suspected Ebola deaths were stated as 119, but regional numbers add to 220, with officials unreachable to explain the discrepancy.
• There is no available vaccine for the Bundibugyo virus, a rare type of Ebola that spread undetected for weeks in Ituri.
• The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said three of its volunteers died in Mongbwalu, believed to have contracted the virus on March 27 while handling dead bodies unrelated to Ebola; if confirmed, this would push back the outbreak timeline.

Conflicting Reports

The source article states the Congolese Ministry reported 119 total suspected Ebola deaths, but numbers released separately for each region add to 220, with officials not reachable to explain.

Still Unclear

• Whether anyone was hurt in the Sunday attack.
• The whereabouts of the 18 unaccounted patients from the Saturday attack.
• The reason for the discrepancy in Ebola death numbers reported by the ministry.
• Whether the three Red Cross volunteers’ deaths were Ebola-related.

Misconceptions

No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.

Key Figures

• Dr. Richard Lokudu, medical director of Monbgwalu General Hospital.
• Congolese Ministry of Communication (unnamed official).
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (unnamed spokesperson).

Sources: abcnews.com