Ebola Hospital Set Ablaze — One Body Burned, Patients Who Fled Apprehended

A mob attacked a hospital and set fire to isolation tents in the town of Rwampara, in Kongo, on Friday (22 May 2026). After the family and friends of a young man suspected to have died from the virus were barred from taking his body for burial, the incident occurred. According to Reuters, police fired warning shots to disperse the rioters at Rwampara General Hospital. However, the attempt failed, and the crowd burned two tents containing eight beds before reinforcements of troops and police arrived to control the situation. As a result, the tents were completely burned along with one body that was due to be buried that day. Six patients who had been treated in the tents were reported to have fled during the unrest. However, the medical charity Alima later said that all patients had been located and were currently receiving treatment at the hospital. Local politician Luc Malembe Malembe said that many people still do not believe that the Ebola virus, which has so far killed more than 130 people in the eastern DRC region, really exists. Ebola corpses can still transmit infection easily. Therefore, authorities in the DRC and international health bodies emphasise that burials must be undertaken by a special team wearing personal protective equipment.