DR Congo orders Ebola testing of bodies before burial

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are strengthening precautions around the handling of deceased people as they intensify efforts to contain the country's latest Ebola outbreak.

Under the new measures, bodies at morgues must be tested for Ebola before they can be released to families for burial. Authorities say the requirement is intended to detect infections that may otherwise go unnoticed and prevent funeral ceremonies from becoming new points of transmission.

Katembo Tsongo Maombi, a morgue attendant at Ruwenzori Medical Center, said remains cannot be released without official clearance.

"Nobody is allowed to leave the morgue without authorization. This is how we operate here," he said.

Families are being asked to wait for samples to be collected and tested before receiving the remains of their loved ones. 

According to health officials, the additional checks are also being accompanied by communication with families to explain the risks and promote safer burial practices.

Prisca Luanda, senior health adviser to the North Kivu governor, said families are informed of the procedures when a body is brought to the morgue.

"In case of an Ebola-related death, we have taken measures to communicate with the family. This also helps us raise awareness in the community. When a family brings a body to the morgue, they must be informed that they will have to wait for samples to be taken and tested before proceeding with the burial," Luanda said.

Safe and dignified burials are a key part of Ebola response efforts because the virus can remain highly infectious in the bodies of people who have died from the disease. Health workers therefore seek to limit direct contact with remains while allowing families to observe culturally appropriate burial practices as safely as possible.

The measures come as the DRC battles an Ebola outbreak that authorities declared in May. 

The outbreak began in Kasai Province and has spread rapidly, prompting health authorities and international partners to expand surveillance, vaccination and treatment efforts.

The World Health Organization and other health agencies have also been supporting efforts to identify suspected cases, trace contacts and strengthen infection prevention measures in communities and health facilities.

Health officials hope tighter controls around the handling of bodies, combined with early detection and community awareness, will help break chains of transmission and slow the spread of the outbreak.