June 16, 2026, 3:30 p.mJune 16, 2026, 3:31 p.m
According to the Red Cross, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has not yet reached its peak. “We fear that it may take a year until the outbreak is over.”
A paramedic transports an Ebola patient.Image: keystone
This is what Bruno Michon, who is on site in Bunia for the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), told reporters in Geneva. “The climax is still ahead of us, not behind us.”
He speaks of a crisis of trust that is making it difficult to combat the outbreak. People still believed that the disease was invented to get more money from abroad. Others believe that funerals under special protective measures are an attack on culture and traditions, not a measure to protect families. The virus can be transmitted from corpses, which is why protective devices are necessary.
New type of body bags
The Red Cross, which organizes the funerals, has listened and is now using body bags with a clear plastic part so families can see their relative’s face. “Building trust takes time,” said Michon. «It requires honesty, patience and humility. But in this pandemic that is not an option. It saves lives.”
According to the Congolese health authorities, more than 780 confirmed cases of the life-threatening disease have now been detected in the laboratory. (hkl/sda/dpa)