WHO Director Condemns Killing of Nurse in DRC Ebola Zone
The attack in Bafwasende occurred as the outbreak surpassed 9,800 cases, prompting new quarantine measures in neighboring Uganda.
By Jade Thompson ·
A nurse was killed and a colleague was seriously injured during an attack in Bafwasende, a town in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Tshopo province. The assault took place on Saturday while the health workers were responding to an Ebola alert.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the death in a post on X on Sunday. He stated that those working to protect communities from the disease must do so in dignity and safety. Ghebreyesus emphasized that healthcare must always be protected during such outbreaks.
Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the WHO's regional director for Africa, also addressed the violence on social media. He described health as not being a target and warned that misinformation and fear should not drive attacks on responders. Local authorities have not yet commented on the specific incident or identified any suspects.
The Ministry of Health in the DRC reported more than 9,800 cases and over 4,700 deaths since the outbreak began in May. These figures mark the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country's history. Officials describe the situation as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in the world.
Distrust in the government's handling of the crisis has complicated containment efforts. Some residents have dismissed the virus as a hoax, a sentiment fueled by chronic corruption and a lack of medical supplies in remote areas. This skepticism has made it harder for responders to operate in emerging hotspots.
Violence against health workers has become a recurring issue. Last month, a DRC politician was beaten to death in North Kivu after defending the government's response on a radio show. In May, residents set fire to tents at two health centers within a single week. Teams have also reported being held captive or threatened in designated health zones.
The outbreak has now been reported in four countries across Africa, representing the widest geographic spread for the continent. On Sunday, Uganda's Minister of Health Chris Baryomunsi announced that all citizens returning from the DRC will be quarantined for 21 days. This follows two recent positive cases in Kenya and Nigeria among individuals who had passed through Uganda. The WHO advises against travel restrictions while calling for stronger cross-border monitoring.
Source: Al Jazeera
