A high-ranking official from Congo’s ruling party was lynched by local residents after participating in a radio broadcast aimed at raising awareness about the Ebola virus. The incident occurred in Butembo, North Kivu province, on Sunday and was reported by a party representative on Monday. Butembo has recently been an epicenter of the Ebola outbreak. Marie Célestine Karondwa, acting head of the local UDPS party branch, was attacked after promoting preventative measures on the radio program, suffering a fatal assault where she was beaten, robbed, and her home was burned. The number of assailants and the motive remain unclear. The UDPS stated Karondwa was targeted for defending the party’s stance on the reality and dangers of Ebola. She died from her injuries. Recent attacks against authorities and response teams have been carried out by individuals believing the virus is a hoax or part of a conspiracy. Earlier, an attack on a disinfection center in Beni, North Kivu, resulted in one death and several injuries. As of Monday, Congo’s government reported 8,067 Ebola cases and 3,901 deaths since the outbreak began on May 15th.