A nurse has been killed and another health worker seriously injured in an attack on an Ebola response team in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.
The attack occurred on Saturday in Bafwasende, Tshopo province, eastern DR Congo, while the team was responding to an Ebola alert.
The WHO condemned the incident, warning that violence against healthcare personnel threatens efforts to contain the outbreak and protect vulnerable communities.
The organisation’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and its Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Yakub Janabi, called for the protection of healthcare workers and others involved in the response.
Local authorities had not immediately identified the attackers or disclosed their suspected motives.
Ebola outbreak puts health workers under pressure
The attack comes as DR Congo battles a severe Ebola outbreak that has placed additional pressure on its already stretched healthcare system.
Reports published on October 26 put the cumulative toll since the outbreak began in May at more than 9,800 reported cases and over 4,700 deaths.
Health workers have faced resistance in some communities, where misinformation and distrust of authorities have complicated efforts to identify infections, trace contacts and provide treatment.
The WHO has warned that fear and false information can fuel attacks against medical personnel and undermine public cooperation with disease-control measures.
Previous incidents in the country have included threats against response teams, attacks on health facilities and violence targeting people involved in Ebola prevention efforts.
Attacks threaten Ebola containment efforts
Violence against health workers can disrupt disease surveillance, delay essential supplies and discourage medical teams from entering affected communities.
Such disruptions may leave vulnerable people with fewer opportunities to receive timely diagnosis and treatment, potentially complicating efforts to limit transmission.
Ebola is a serious viral disease that can cause fever, weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea. Severe cases may involve internal or external bleeding.
The virus spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or contaminated materials.
Early identification, isolation, infection-prevention measures and appropriate medical care are crucial to limiting the spread of the disease.
The WHO has urged communities to cooperate with disease-control efforts and ensure that healthcare workers can carry out their duties safely.
The latest attack underscores the security challenges facing Ebola responders as they work to contain the outbreak. Further details about the investigation and the condition of the injured health worker were still awaited.
