DRC Ebola outbreak tops 9,800 cases as violence claims nurse in Tshopo
A health worker was killed and another injured during an outbreak response in Bafwasende, adding to a pattern of attacks that officials say are slowing containment efforts.
By Rebecca Lewis ·
More than 9,800 confirmed cases of Ebola have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since May, according to the Ministry of Health. The death toll has surpassed 4,700, making this the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country's history. The figures were released alongside news of a violent incident in the eastern province of Tshopo.
A nurse was killed and a second health worker was seriously injured in an attack that took place on Saturday in Bafwasende. The assault occurred while the team was responding to an Ebola alert. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the incident on Sunday via his X account. He stated that those protecting communities from the disease must work in dignity and safety, and that healthcare must always be protected.
Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the WHO regional director for Africa, also criticized the violence. He noted that health is not a target and that misinformation and fear should not fuel attacks on responders. Local authorities have not yet provided a statement regarding the specific incident or named any suspects. Officials say such violence is slowing the containment of what is described as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in the world.
The current strain, Bundibugyo, has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Symptoms can appear within 21 days of exposure to the bodily fluids of an infected person. Government handling of the crisis and chronic corruption have fostered distrust among the population. Some residents have dismissed the virus as a hoax, a skepticism that complicates work in remote areas and emerging hotspots that already lack supplies and staff.
This is the latest in a series of attacks on health workers. Last month, a politician in North Kivu was beaten to death after defending government measures on a radio show. In May, residents set fire to tents at two health centers within a week. Responders report that some residents have also held team members captive or threatened them in designated health zones.
The outbreak has now spread to four countries across eastern, central, and western Africa, marking the widest geographic spread of any Ebola outbreak on the continent. On Sunday, Uganda's Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi announced that citizens returning from the DRC will be quarantined for 21 days. Uganda declared its previous outbreak over in July, but experts remain watchful after two people who passed through the country tested positive in Kenya and Nigeria. The WHO called for stronger monitoring and cross-border cooperation on October 23, advising against travel or trade restrictions.
The next step in the response involves continued monitoring across the affected regions. The WHO is coordinating with local health ministries to track new cases and manage the spread of the Bundibugyo strain. Health workers in Tshopo and other hotspots are continuing to treat patients despite the recent violence.
Source: Al Jazeera
