In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the first recorded cases of the Ebola virus were initially perceived by locals as a "curse" or "mysterious disease."
According to Oxu.Az, this information was reported by Africanews.
The initial deaths occurred in the Ituri province, in a mining area called Mongbwalu. Residents attributed the illness not to medical issues but to sorcery and witchcraft.
Health officials stated that due to this belief, people delayed seeking medical help, instead turning to traditional healers and religious leaders.
This led to faster spread of the virus. By the time the misunderstanding was cleared, 246 suspected infections and 65 deaths had been recorded.
The country's Ministry of Health said the source of the epidemic has not yet been precisely identified.
