Safe and Dignified Burial Part of Ebola Emergency Response

As part of the Ebola Emergency Response, the Red Cross is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to help stop the spread of Ebola in DRC. Infection of the Ebola virus can occur from touching the bodies of those who have died from the Ebola virus disease (EVD). This practice is part of traditional burial rituals in eastern DRC, why the rituals need to be modified so that family members can say goodbye to their loved ones without becoming exposed to the virus. Red Cross has trained specialist burial teams in remote communities to safely bury people who have died of Ebola. They also make sure that people's homes and medical equipment are disinfected. Providing the opportunity for a safe yet dignified burial is an opportunity to respect cultures and provide comfort to those left behind.
The volunteers of the safe burial teams wear protective clothing as they take the dead from their homes. The bodies are wrapped in a protective covering as well so that neither the burial team nor the family will be infected with Ebola. The body is brought to the morgue in Butembo.
A medical worker get dressed in protective clothing.