A nurse was killed and another health worker severely injured after armed attackers targeted them during an Ebola response mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The incident occurred on Saturday in the town of Bafwasende in eastern Tshopo province.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the casualties in a statement on Sunday. He stated that everyone working to protect communities from the deadly disease must be able to operate in dignity and safety, and that healthcare must always be protected.
Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the WHO regional director for Africa, also condemned the assault. He stated that health is not a target and that responders must be protected, warning that misinformation and fear must never fuel violence against medical personnel.
Local authorities have not yet issued a comment regarding the attack or the identity of the suspects. The incident marks the latest in a series of violent episodes targeting responders, which officials say are hampering efforts to control the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in the world.
Data from the Ministry of Health show that more than 9,800 cases and over 4,700 deaths have been recorded since the outbreak began in May. The figures make this the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the history of the country.
Widespread distrust in the government handling of the crisis, alongside chronic corruption, has led some residents to dismiss the virus as a hoax. Responders note that community scepticism continues to complicate operations in remote areas and emerging hotspots facing severe shortages of medical supplies.
Security incidents have plagued the response since its inception. In May, residents set fire to two health centre tents in separate attacks within a single week. Last month, a politician in North Kivu province was beaten to death after defending the government response on a radio broadcast and urging the public to follow safety measures.
The current epidemic has spread across four countries in eastern, central and western Africa, marking the widest geographic reach for any Ebola outbreak on the continent. Uganda announced on Sunday that all citizens returning from travel to the DRC will face a 21-day quarantine.
Uganda declared an end to its own recent outbreak in July and is officially Ebola-free, though health experts maintain high alert after travellers from the region tested positive in Kenya and Nigeria. The strain driving the outbreak is Bundibugyo, which currently has no approved vaccine or specific medical treatment.
