Ebola Outbreak Sparks Fear and Violence in Congo and Uganda

The deadly Ebola outbreak spreading across eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring Uganda has triggered growing fear among residents, while health officials struggle to contain the virus amid violence, misinformation and severe shortages of medical resources.

In the eastern Congolese city of Bunia, cocoa seller Helen Akilimali says she never goes out in public without wearing a face mask. Because of her work, she regularly comes into contact with many people, including customers who still refuse to believe Ebola is real.

“Ebola is a real disease. People should stop spreading false rumors,” Akilimali told CNN. “I always cover my face with a mask, but some of my customers still come without wearing one.”

Communities across the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, the areas hardest hit by the outbreak, are not only battling the virus but also a flood of misinformation. Many residents initially dismissed the disease as a hoax until deaths began mounting in their communities.

The Director General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said more than 900 suspected Ebola cases have already been identified in Congo. The WHO had earlier warned that at least 177 deaths could be linked to the outbreak.

Health authorities believe the outbreak began in rural areas of Ituri Province, but the virus has now spread into larger cities including Bunia and Goma, raising fears of wider transmission. In neighboring Uganda, at least five infections have been confirmed and two people have died.

The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine. Researchers at University of Oxford are developing a new vaccine candidate, but according to reports from BBC, clinical trials may still take another two to three months to begin. Scientists have also cautioned there is no guarantee the vaccine will prove effective.

The WHO on Friday classified the risk level in Congo as “very high” and “high” across the African region, though it said the risk of global spread currently remains low.

Eastern Congo’s fragile security situation has made the outbreak even more difficult to control. The region has been plagued by armed conflict for years, with several rebel groups operating in the area. Angry youths have attacked hospitals and public facilities following the spread of Ebola, accusing authorities of mishandling the crisis.

On Sunday, a group of youths stormed an Ebola treatment center in Ituri Province demanding the bodies of two relatives who had died. According to hospital director Dr. Richard Lokudu, the attackers vandalized the facility, forcing medical workers to evacuate patients after gunfire erupted within the compound.

Just last week, two health centers in the region were reportedly set on fire.

Experts say years of violence, mass displacement, weak governance and cuts to international aid have severely damaged the healthcare system in eastern Congo. The rights organization Physicians for Human Rights described the situation as a “cascade of catastrophic crises.”

Local resident Ili Ilung from Bunia said many people only began taking Ebola seriously after witnessing deaths in their own neighborhoods.

“At first we thought it was some kind of joke,” he said. “But after we saw people dying, we realized it was real.”

Ilung said his family has installed handwashing facilities at home and urged residents not to spread misinformation about the disease.

Meanwhile, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has urged the public to stop shaking hands and remain cautious to prevent further transmission. Health officials in Uganda say the situation there is currently stable.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said authorities are preparing medical treatment supplies while also prioritizing vaccine development efforts.

“We cannot say exactly how many months vaccine development will take,” Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya told reporters. “Anyone who gives an exact timeline is not telling the truth.”

Aid organizations working in eastern Congo say hospitals are running critically short of protective equipment including face shields, protective suits, testing kits and body bags needed for safe burials.

Julienne Lusenge, president of the humanitarian group Women’s Solidarity for Inclusive Peace and Development, said her organization has repeatedly requested support but has received little assistance so far.

“We only have hand sanitizer and a few masks for nurses,” she said.

Health experts also warn that large camps for displaced people near Bunia could become major hotspots for the disease. Nearly one million people have reportedly been displaced by conflict in the region.

Armed groups linked to the Islamic State, including Uganda’s Allied Democratic Forces, remain active in eastern Congo, while Rwanda-backed M23 rebels control parts of North and South Kivu provinces.

Public anger has also been fueled by strict burial protocols introduced to stop the virus from spreading further. Authorities have taken control of funeral procedures for suspected Ebola victims, replacing traditional family-led burial ceremonies with tightly regulated health measures.

Humanitarian workers say rebuilding trust between communities and health officials will be critical to stopping the outbreak before it spreads further across the region.