Six Ebola patients escape after treatment centre is set on fire in DR Congo

Six patients have fled an Ebola treatment centre in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after residents set the facility on fire, Actualité reports.

The outlet said the incident occurred at a treatment centre in the town of Rwampala in the country’s northeast, where a patient suspected of having Ebola in the terminal stage had been admitted.

The patient reportedly died after being admitted to the medical facility.

Relatives demanded the release of the body, but medical staff refused, citing the risk of infection.

Following the refusal, the relatives allegedly set fire to the facility, which had been established by the non-governmental organisation ALIMA, including tents and medical equipment.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov