Geneva – The United Nations migration agency warned Friday that moving Ebola victims' bodies between communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo poses a severe risk of further spreading the deadly virus. Families often transport deceased relatives for traditional funerals in their home villages, a practice that could accelerate the current outbreak. As of mid-July 2026, the ongoing Ebola outbreak has seen 2,124 confirmed cases and 828 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Danger in Traditional Burials
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) highlighted that Ebola remains highly infectious even after a person dies. Direct contact with bodily fluids from an infected body can easily transmit the virus. This makes funeral practices a critical part of controlling the outbreak. Andrew Mbala, an IOM official, explained the risk. "If we don't really manage the dead bodies well, if we don't engage the community, then it means there will be more spread within the community," Mbala said.[cnbcafrica+5]
IOM officials confirmed that bodies are frequently moved across districts within Congo. This happens because families wish to bury their loved ones in their ancestral communities. Mbala noted that while there have been no documented cases of bodies crossing international borders, "we have seen a lot of crossings of dead bodies within the country." Such internal movement risks carrying the virus into new, previously unaffected areas if the bodies are not handled safely. Surveillance efforts by the IOM at various entry points and crossings between health control zones have already intercepted 105 bodies. One specific incident involved a body moved from one area to another, which contributed to new infections in the Tshopo province.[cnbcafrica+14]
Outbreak Reaches Record Scale
The current Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, is now the third largest on record. It is spreading faster than any previous outbreak during its initial months. The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated in Geneva that the outbreak continues to expand despite significant efforts. The disease has spread across five provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo. Ituri province remains the most severely affected, reporting 1,904 cases and 692 deaths as of mid-July.[news+8]
The outbreak has seen a rapid increase in cases, growing by approximately 70% in just two weeks, with an average of more than 40 new cases reported daily. Aconcerning fact is that nearly two-thirds of all reported deaths, some sources indicating as high as 92.3%, occur outside of clinics or hospitals. This makes it much harder for health authorities to ensure safe burial practices and track transmission chains effectively. There is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment available for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Early diagnosis and supportive care are crucial for survival.[ecdc+13]
Challenges and Community Resistance
Response efforts face significant hurdles, including active armed conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This conflict environment is characterized by highly mobile and displaced populations, many of whom have limited access to basic services like food, clean water, shelter, and healthcare. These conditions make surveillance and response particularly difficult.[news+4]
Community resistance to safe burial practices is another major challenge. Burial teams often face opposition and, in some cases, even attacks when trying to conduct safe and dignified burials. This resistance stems from a lack of trust and understanding within communities. A UNICEF survey in the Democratic Republic of Congo found that two-thirds of young people did not know how Ebola spreads, and nearly one-third would not welcome a survivor back into their community. These factors complicate efforts to break the chain of transmission. Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, noted that 80% of new cases are appearing outside known contact lists, indicating undetected transmission chains.[reliefweb+7]
Impact on Vulnerable Populations
The outbreak has a disproportionate impact on children. UNICEF warned in June 2026 that an estimated 2.95 million children and adolescents under 18 are at risk from the virus itself and from the breakdown of essential services. Children and adolescents account for about 15% of confirmed Ebola cases and over 25% of confirmed deaths, and they are almost twice as likely to die as adults if infected. Many children have lost parents to Ebola, leaving them orphaned or separated from caregivers.[unicef+2]
Organizations like Oxfam have highlighted that ongoing conflict and aid cuts have weakened the country's health systems, making it harder to detect and respond to outbreaks. Dr. Manenji Mangundu, Oxfam's Country Director in the Democratic Republic of Congo, described the situation as "an emergency full of emergencies," pointing to reduced capacity to respond to disasters. International and local partners are working to contain the spread through infection prevention and control, contact tracing, and community engagement. However, the continued movement of infected bodies presents a persistent and critical threat to these efforts.[unicef+7]
