Suit accuses company of dumping bodies

Suit accuses companyof dumping bodies
MIAMI -- A cemetery company was sued Wednesday by relatives in Florida who claim their loved ones' remains were dug up and dumped in the woods and that burial vaults were stacked on top of each other to make room for new graves.
The accusations against Menorah Gardens in West Palm Beach prompted state officials to investigate the cemetery and four other South Florida cemeteries owned by Service Corporation International.
All five cemeteries -- one in Palm Beach County and four in Broward -- are owned by the Houston-based conglomerate, which has assets of more than $130 billion. Company officials denied knowledge of any wrongdoing and said they are investigating.
"What is alleged in the lawsuit is disturbing and completely contrary to our policies and procedures," said Terry Hemeyer, managing director of SCI. "We are taking the allegations seriously and are conducting an internal investigation with all possible diligence."
State Attorney General Bob Butterworth issued subpoenas for burial records of the five cemeteries. Butterworth aide John deGroot cited the lawsuit as the basis for the probe.
"This is going to be devastating to a lot of people," deGroot said.
Ebola virus spreadsto Republic of Congo
GENEVA -- An outbreak of the deadly ebola virus has spread from the central African nation of Gabon to neighboring Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization said today.
Fifteen people have died in Gabon since Ebola was first reported earlier this month. Eleven cases have now been detected in Republic of Congo, the U.N. health agency said in a statement.
Health authorities had feared the disease would spread as the Gabon outbreak was just a few miles from the border of Republic of Congo.
At least one woman believed to be infected with Ebola fled Gabon and was located in the village of Mbomo, Republic of Congo, health authorities said Wednesday. The woman's baby had died and she was reported to be in a serious condition.
"The international team is operational on both sides of the border and is working closely in the field with the team from the Congolese Ministry of Health on outbreak control interventions," WHO said.
Medical staff are trying to trace everyone who has had contact with any of the known victims and observing them for signs of the virus. A total of 133 contacts are being followed up in Gabon and 94 in the Republic of Congo, WHO said.
Ebola is one of the most deadly viral diseases known to humankind, causing death in 50 percent to 90 percent of those who become infected.
Associated Press