Butembo, Congo – Mourners gathered on Wednesday to lay to rest Marie‑Célestin Karondwa, a local official with the ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party, who was brutally attacked on Sunday at his home. Karondwa had used a radio program to defend the government’s Ebola response and to call on the public to observe social distancing and hand‑washing measures.
According to his granddaughter, Sagesse Kavira, “They beat him up and then set the house alight.” Karondwa later died from his injuries at a nearby hospital.
Violence Amid Growing Outbreak
The killing follows a series of attacks on health workers and responders as the Democratic Republic of Congo battles its 17th and deadliest Ebola outbreak, with more than 8,000 reported cases and nearly 4,000 deaths.
Authorities this month introduced a village‑centered approach to combat the disease, but resistance persists. Some residents dismiss Ebola as a hoax, fueled by longstanding distrust of the government over past outbreak handling and chronic corruption.
“That is believed to have provoked the anger of certain young people,” said Jean‑Baptiste Katsongo Lwatswa, first federal vice‑president of the UDPS in Butembo.
Challenges in Remote Areas
Responders report that skepticism complicates efforts to reach remote communities and emerging hotspots already suffering shortages of medical supplies and health‑care workers. The eastern region’s rebel‑controlled territories add another layer of difficulty, as decades of conflict and human‑rights abuses have left many wary of outsiders and state authorities.
Local resident Enoch Muhindo Balimatangi expressed mixed feelings: “Some say that the illness exists, while others refuse to accept that it does. That’s frightening!”
Medical Context
The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which no approved vaccines or treatments currently exist. Clinical trials are underway in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak.
In its latest situation report, the World Health Organization warned that the disease remains serious, citing “persistent challenges in timely case detection and access to early and adequate patient care.” WHO also noted that the outbreak is outpacing response efforts and is on track to exceed the deadliest West African outbreak of 2014‑2016, which claimed 11,000 lives.
Authorities and health officials continue to urge cooperation from communities, emphasizing that adherence to basic preventive measures can save lives even as scientific solutions are pursued.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
