ITURI PROVINCE — Health officials in Congo officially declared an Ebola outbreak on May 15 in Ituri province after the Bundibugyo virus spread undetected for several weeks. Dozens of individuals died from the virus before the declaration. Congolese authorities have confirmed 363 Ebola cases, including 62 deaths, in the D.R.C.
Rumors and mistrust regarding the Ebola outbreak have persisted in the Ituri province. Chantie Joe Kiss, a mother of two, said, "The rumors I hear are that people don't believe Ebola exists, and now people are afraid to go to the hospital." Kiss said, "If someone dies in the hospital, they assume it was Ebola and take the body themselves to bury it as they see fit. Families no longer have the freedom to bury their loved ones as they used to." She added, "But now, with the epidemic here, if we go to the hospital they talk about Ebola. But this plant helped us before."
The initial medical testing for the outbreak concentrated on common Ebola strains. Government authorities oversee burials of Ebola victims, who remain highly infectious after death, to prevent further virus transmission. Rumors circulated in the region alleging that Western non-governmental organizations invented Ebola to secure funding. Other rumors claimed an Ebola vaccine would intentionally infect recipients or that the virus was being introduced into local residences through sewage systems.
Verite Johnson, a radio host at Mont Bleu TV and radio station in Bunia, addressed the situation. Johnson said, "The epidemic is here, the authorities have declared that the epidemic exists." Johnson said, "We are trying to invite specialists and health authorities who come here to talk. We ask them questions. Even this population who has resisted has the possibility to ask their question directly."