Nurse Killed, Health Worker Injured in Attack During Ebola Response in Congo

A nurse was killed and a health worker was severely injured in an attack while responding to an Ebola alert in Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported.

The attack occurred Saturday in Bafwasende, located in the eastern Tshopo province, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"Everyone working to protect communities from this deadly disease must be able to work in dignity and safety. Healthcare must always be protected," Ghebreyesus stated on X, formerly Twitter. The WHO's regional director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, also condemned the attack, adding that "Misinformation and fear must never fuel violence."

Local authorities have not yet commented on the incident or identified suspects.

The latest attack is one in a series of assaults on health workers and responders that authorities say are hindering efforts to contain the world's fastest-growing Ebola outbreak. The country's health ministry has recorded over 9,800 cases, with more than 4,700 deaths, since the outbreak began in May, making it the deadliest in Congo's history.

Last month, a Congolese politician was beaten to death in North Kivu after publicly supporting the government's Ebola response measures, including social distancing and handwashing, on a radio program. This incident followed the launch of a village-centered approach to combat the outbreak, which faced resistance from some residents who questioned the existence of Ebola.

There is significant distrust of the Congolese government due to its management of past Ebola outbreaks and ongoing corruption, according to reports. Responders note that skepticism about the disease among communities complicates engagement, particularly in remote areas and emerging hotspots that already face shortages of medical supplies and healthcare workers.

In May, two health centers in separate attacks saw tents set ablaze by angry residents. Frontline workers have also reported that some response team members have been held captive in certain health zones, and teams responsible for safe burial practices have received threats.