A cracked coffin, a funeral and the hunt for Ebola’s patient zero in a remote Congo gold town (opens original article in a new tab)

A cracked coffin carrying a Congolese pastor was involved in a suspected early super-spreader event during his funeral in Mongbwalu, DR Congo, as investigators seek to identify the patient zero of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain outbreak, which has caused 635 confirmed infections and 127 deaths. Rumors of a cursed coffin led to community mistrust, violence against health workers, and the spread of misinformation about the outbreak.

• A cracked coffin carrying a Congolese pastor was involved in a suspected early super-spreader event during his funeral in Mongbwalu, DR Congo.
• Investigations are underway to identify the patient zero of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain outbreak, which has caused 635 confirmed infections and 127 deaths.
• Rumors of a cursed coffin led to community mistrust, violence against health workers, and the spread of misinformation about the Ebola outbreak.