Three Red Cross Volunteers Die from Suspected Ebola in DR Congo's Ituri Region

Three Red Cross volunteers are confirmed to have died from suspected Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), likely after managing deceased individuals. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) stated the volunteers probably contracted the virus on 27 March while working on an unrelated project in the eastern region of Ituri, prior to the outbreak's official identification.

Alikana Udumusi Augustin, Sezabo Katanabo, and Ajiko Chandiru Viviane died between 5 and 16 May. They had been working in Mongbwalu, which is now considered the epicentre of the outbreak. The IFRC lauded their service, noting they had died after serving their communities "with courage and humanity".

This outbreak, involving the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has resulted in over 170 suspected deaths and 750 suspected cases in DR Congo. The World Health Organization (WHO) has elevated the public health risk within DR Congo to "very high", with a "high" risk for the wider African region.

Community resistance presents a significant obstacle to containment. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that a tent provided for Ebola patient treatment in Mongbwalu was burnt on Friday. This incident follows a previous day's unrest in Ituri, where a hospital wing was set alight after family and friends were prevented from removing a suspected Ebola victim's body for burial. The presence of the M23 rebel group in parts of Ituri, North, and South Kivu further complicates health efforts.