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Health Misinformation Turns Deadly in Congo as False Illness Rumor Sparks Violence
Rumors of a mysterious illness allegedly causing male genitalia to atrophy swept through the rainforest-covered Tshopo province in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo late last year, triggering panic that culminated in deadly violence. According to officials and a survivor who spoke with Reuters, angry mobs killed four health workers conducting vaccination research in October, highlighting the dangerous real-world consequences of online health misinformation in Africa.
The violence has since spread beyond Tshopo to other parts of Congo. The WHO-led Africa Infodemic Response Alliance (AIRA), which monitors false health information, reports that at least 17 killings related to the atrophy rumor have occurred, including the health workers.
“In Congo, misinformation really led to death and murder,” said Elodie Ho, the Nairobi-based director of AIRA. “It started in communities. It spread into social media and local media. It was amplified by those actors.”
An investigation by Reuters revealed that churches played a significant role in spreading the rumors in Tshopo. In two verified videos, pastors and worshippers at churches in the provincial capital Kisangani claimed prayer had cured alleged victims of the non-existent condition.
Local officials took the rumors seriously enough to investigate claims from five alleged victims but found no evidence the illness was real. Authorities have since taken action against those responsible for fueling the panic, with one man sentenced to 12 months in prison for accusing another of spreading the disease, and approximately a dozen people arrested.
The mistrust of established medicine evident in this case has deep roots in parts of Africa, partially stemming from both colonial-era experiences and more recent controversial Western clinical trials. Today, this skepticism is amplified by inexpensive artificial intelligence tools and widespread social media use, according to the African Union’s Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, warned that false information is keeping people from accessing lifesaving treatments. “When populations do not trust vaccines, health workers, or government policies, it means they don’t access services that can help them survive,” he said.
The phenomenon is not limited to Congo. Similar attacks linked to false health information have occurred in Mozambique and Malawi, connected to cholera misinformation. A WHO-managed health hotline aimed at combating misinformation has seen calls increase dramatically, from 3,331 in the first quarter of 2025 to 31,636 in the fourth.
In Tshopo, churches significantly amplified the rumors. One video showed a taxi driver at a Christian gathering claiming megachurch pastor Jules Mulindwa of the Pentecostal Church Light of the World had cured him with prayer. This video, posted on TikTok by a church worker and shared by online news site Boyoma Revolution, garnered more than 300,000 views on Facebook alone.
Mulindwa, who has over 400,000 TikTok subscribers, has previously falsely claimed to cure coronavirus, according to fact-checking platform CongoCheck. Though he received a 12-month prison term for defamation last year, he has not served the sentence.
The violence erupted on October 6 when health workers arrived in villages in Tshopo’s Isangi area to conduct vaccination surveys. In Ilambi village, young men accused the outsiders wearing high-visibility vests and carrying tablets of secretly spreading the fake disease. Despite attempts to explain their unrelated vaccine research, two medical doctors, Placide Mbungi and John Tangakeya, were killed on the spot.
“They burned him alive, without even leaving me a trace of him,” Tangakeya’s widow Justine Tangakeya Basekauke told Reuters.
In nearby Yafira village, their colleagues Mathieu Mosisi and Kevin Ilunga sought help from a policeman, but an angry crowd killed them as well, according to Tshopo health official Marie Jeanne Lebe.
The day after the killings, the governor’s office issued a statement declaring the rumors false and dangerous. Dr. Bavon Tangunza, AIRA’s manager in Congo, helped craft messages broadcast in local languages over radio, online, and through community workers to counter the misinformation.
Despite these efforts, the rumors continue to resurface months later. In March, a woman in Congo’s Lualaba province was reportedly lynched after being accused of spreading the non-existent disease, while another person survived a similar attack.
Complicating efforts to tackle such misinformation, AIRA has experienced funding cuts as U.S. and other nations have reduced foreign aid. The organization now has personnel in just three countries, down from five, and an AI platform built to track online misinformation is non-operational due to lack of funds for subscription fees.
The WHO regional office has indicated that discussions are underway to secure funding to sustain and expand AIRA’s critical work combating dangerous health misinformation across the African continent.
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8 Comments
The details around the health workers being killed while conducting vaccination research are truly disturbing. Spreading misinformation about health issues can’t be taken lightly when it puts frontline workers at risk. Stronger efforts are needed to counter false narratives in the digital age.
Absolutely. The WHO-led AIRA group seems to be playing a crucial role in monitoring and responding to misinformation in Africa. Their efforts to track and counter these kinds of deadly rumors are vitally important.
This incident highlights the urgent need for digital literacy programs to help people in vulnerable communities spot and avoid misinformation, especially around sensitive health topics. Empowering people to think critically about online content could save lives.
It’s troubling to see how quickly these false rumors about an alleged ‘mysterious illness’ spread through communities and social media in Congo. The speed at which misinformation can travel and the real-world harm it can cause is deeply concerning. Fact-checking and public education efforts are clearly needed.
The role of churches in spreading these rumors is very worrying. Religious institutions should be a source of reliable information, not misinformation. Improved coordination between public health authorities, community leaders, and media outlets is crucial to counter the dangerous spread of false narratives.
I agree, it’s a complex challenge when trusted community institutions like churches become vectors for misinformation. Building partnerships to quickly identify and refute false claims is essential.
This is a tragic situation where misinformation can have such deadly consequences. It’s a sobering reminder of the need for accurate, fact-based health information, especially in vulnerable communities. Spreading false rumors, even unintentionally, can lead to violence and loss of life.
I agree, the role of churches in amplifying these dangerous rumors is particularly concerning. Trusted community institutions need to be vigilant about verifying information before sharing it.