Nurse killed in attack responding to Congo Ebola outbreak

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 01:01 · Archive

A nurse has been killed and a health worker severely injured in an attack while responding to an Ebola alert in eastern Congo.

A nurse was killed and a health worker severely injured on Saturday after being attacked while responding to an Ebola alert in Bafwasende, in Congo's eastern Tshopo province, according to WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The WHO says this is the latest in a series of attacks on health workers and responders that authorities say is hampering efforts to slow the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in the world.

The country's health ministry reports more than 9,800 cases and over 4,700 deaths since the outbreak began in May, making it Congo's deadliest Ebola outbreak. In October, a Congolese politician was beaten to death in North Kivu after publicly defending the government's response to Ebola and calling on the public to follow preventive measures such as social distancing and handwashing.

Respondents say scepticism about the disease among communities has complicated efforts to work with residents in remote areas and emerging hotspots, which already face shortages of medical supplies and healthcare workers. There is widespread distrust of the country's government because of how it has managed past Ebola outbreaks as well as chronic corruption. WHO regional director for Africa Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi stated that 'misinformation and fear must never fuel violence'.

How it is being reported

• Attackers kill nurse responding to Ebola case in CongoThe World Health Organisation says a nurse has been killed and a health worker severely injured in an attack while responding to an Ebola alert in Congo.The West Australian · 26 Oct, 00:16
• Attackers kill nurse responding to Ebola case in CongoThe World Health Organisation says a nurse has been killed and a health worker severely injured in an attack while responding to an Ebola alert in Congo.Perth Now · 26 Oct, 00:16

In this story: Congo · Bafwasende · Tshopo province · World Health Organisation · Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus · Mohamed Yakub Janabi

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem