Wedding During Ebola Outbreak: Kisses and Close Contact Banned, but Love Lives On
In the city of Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, despite the Ebola outbreak, some families were determined to hold weddings for their relatives. However, local authorities and the church introduced certain measures that had to be followed, although not everyone was happy about it. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Bride Solange Hahati said they invited 300 people to the wedding, but when they arrived at the church, church authorities allowed only 50 to enter. The Democratic Republic of the Congo faced a new Ebola outbreak in May last year.
The wedding took place on June 6, 2026, in the city of Bunia, Ituri province. In photos taken by AP photographer Moses Sawasawa, the newlyweds walk down the church aisle, guests shower them with confetti. The bride places a ring on the groom's finger, and altar boys enter the chapel. Guests joyfully greet the wedding.
To prevent the spread of Ebola, church authorities introduced strict measures: kisses and close contact are banned. However, this did not stop the celebration from being joyful. Wedding participants wore masks and maintained social distance.
This event shows people's desire to continue life even during an epidemic. The Ebola outbreak in Congo began in May 2025 and continues to this day. Authorities have introduced strict quarantine measures to prevent the spread of infection.
Despite the restrictions, the wedding organizers and guests tried to make this day special. Solange Hahati said: "We invited many guests, but the church allowed only 50. It's sad, but our main goal is to get married, and the rest doesn't matter."
According to AP News, this wedding was one of the first held during the Ebola outbreak in Congo. It shows that life goes on despite the epidemic.
--- *Source: Associated Press*