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Inside the dangerous work of Congo’s Ebola burial teams
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- In Congo’s Ituri province, burial teams like Yuma Adolphe’s are overwhelmed by the high number of Ebola deaths, handling graves, bodies, and coffins daily amid a deadly outbreak that has killed nearly 3,200 people.
- The teams face hostility from communities frustrated by restrictions on traditional burial rites, as health workers must handle bodies exclusively to prevent virus spread, leading to violent attacks on burial teams.
- The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, is spreading across six provinces amid rebel violence, displacement, and weak healthcare systems, with efforts hampered by lack of an approved vaccine or treatment.
- Front-line health workers have gone on strikes demanding pay, complicating containment efforts, while experts emphasize the need for a holistic response addressing both medical and social impacts on communities and workers.
- Despite exhaustion and personal risk, burial team members prioritize community safety, continuing their work under intense pressure to prevent further transmission of the virus.
