This brief summarises key socio-cultural considerations of events related to death, burial, funerals (rites or ceremonies), and mourning in the context of the outbreak of Ebola in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces, DRC, August 2018.
Beliefs and practices related to death, burial, funeral rites and mourning can (i) directly impact the transmission of Ebola and (ii) influence trust between communities and responders. Further participatory inquiry should be undertaken, but given ongoing transmission, conveying key considerations and immediate recommendations for safe and dignified burial practices and related community engagement have been prioritised.