Three Red Cross volunteers have died from Ebola after unknowingly handling the bodies of victims during routine humanitarian work in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, underscoring the risks faced by community responders on the front lines of outbreaks.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies confirmed that Ajiko Chandiru Viviane, Sezabo Katanabo, and Alikana Udumusi Augustin contracted the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola on March 27 while conducting body management duties in Djugu territory. At the time, the outbreak had not yet been identified.
The volunteers, who served with the Mongbwalu branch in Ituri province, died on separate dates in May. Their deaths mark some of the first confirmed fatalities in the latest outbreak, which the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern last week.
The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or treatment, making early detection and safe burial practices critical to containment. Health officials note that bodies remain highly infectious after death, and unsafe funerals have historically driven transmission in rural communities.
In response, Red Cross teams are scaling up community outreach across Mongbwalu, going door-to-door to dispel rumors, promote safe burial practices, and encourage residents to report symptoms early. The IFRC said the work is essential to building trust in areas where armed conflict and misinformation complicate public health efforts.
“This tragedy shows why protecting and equipping local responders matters,” the IFRC said. “They are often the first and only link between affected communities and the health system.”
The DRC has faced repeated Ebola outbreaks since 1976, often in regions affected by instability and limited healthcare access. The current outbreak is concentrated in Ituri, where ongoing insecurity has historically hampered response efforts.
