9,800 cases: Ebola outbreak in DRC claims nurse in latest attack

The World Health Organization confirmed on Sunday that a nurse was killed and a second health worker suffered serious injuries during an assault in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The attack occurred on Saturday in Bafwasende, located in the eastern province of Tshopo, while responders were addressing an Ebola alert. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the incident on the platform X, stating that healthcare workers must be able to operate with dignity and safety.

Regional Director for Africa Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi also condemned the violence via X. He wrote that health is not a target and that fear or misinformation should not drive attacks on outbreak responders. Local authorities have not yet provided a statement regarding the specific incident or identified any suspects. This killing adds to a series of violent events that officials say are hampering containment efforts.

Data from the DRC Ministry of Health indicates the outbreak has produced more than 9,800 cases and over 4,700 deaths since it started in May. These figures make it the deadliest Ebola event in the country’s history. The government’s management of the crisis, alongside persistent corruption, has generated deep public distrust. Some residents have dismissed the disease as a hoax, a sentiment that complicates work in remote areas and new hotspots where medical supplies and staff are already scarce.

Previous incidents show a similar pattern of violence. In September, a politician in North Kivu was beaten to death after using a radio program to support the government’s response and encourage hygiene measures. In May, residents set fire to tents at two separate health centers within one week. Teams have also reported being held captive or threatened by locals in designated health zones.

The epidemic has now appeared in four countries spanning eastern, central, and western Africa, marking the widest geographic spread on the continent. On Sunday, Uganda’s Minister of Health Chris Baryomunsi announced a 21-day quarantine for all citizens returning from the DRC. Uganda declared its previous outbreak over in July, but experts remain cautious after two individuals who transited the country later tested positive in Kenya and Nigeria.

The current outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Symptoms can take up to 21 days to appear after exposure. The virus spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people. In an update on October 23, the WHO called for improved monitoring and cross-border cooperation while advising against travel or trade bans on affected nations.