Volunteers are moving from house to house in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to counter misinformation surrounding the Ebola outbreak, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment, was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation earlier this week.
The IFRC said teams are actively engaging residents in Mongbwalu, the epicentre of the outbreak, to educate communities on prevention measures and encourage early medical attention for suspected cases.
IFRC Regional Operations Coordinator for Africa, Gabriela Arenas, said reactions among residents remain divided.
While some people accept the seriousness of the outbreak and follow safety advice, others continue to believe false claims that Ebola is not real.
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“Public tensions recently escalated after angry residents burned tents used for Ebola patients when authorities refused to release the body of a popular local footballer believed to have died from the virus”.
Family members disputed the cause of death and wanted to conduct traditional burial rites themselves.
Health experts warn that the bodies of Ebola victims remain highly infectious, making unsafe burials one of the major causes of transmission during outbreaks.
Arenas stressed that community trust and local engagement are essential to controlling the spread of the disease, noting that fear and lack of reliable information continue to fuel dangerous rumours.
Reuters
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