- A nurse was killed and a colleague seriously injured after local youths targeted them during an Ebola response mission in north-eastern DR Congo
- WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned the attack, saying health workers must be able to carry out their duties in safety
- Uganda has banned non-essential travel to and from DR Congo and announced a 21-day quarantine for returning citizens amid the outbreak
Amos Khaemba is a Current Affairs Editor at TUKO.co.ke, covering political and world news. Khaemba has over four years of journalism experience and joined TUKO.co.ke in 2022.
A nurse has been killed and a second health worker seriously injured after youths attacked them as they responded to an Ebola alert in the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Source: Getty Images
According to UN-backed Radio Okapi, the attackers accused the health workers of contaminating water sources and deliberately spreading the Ebola virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) condemned the assault and extended its condolences to the family and colleagues of the slain nurse, while wishing the injured worker a swift recovery.
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WHO responds to the attack
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said health workers "must be able to carry out their duties in safety and dignity," stressing that healthcare personnel must always be protected.
This is not an isolated case. Last month, a politician was beaten to death in DR Congo after publicly promoting measures to curb the virus's spread.
Earlier, in August, the Red Cross reported that its volunteers had been injured and an ambulance set ablaze across 11 separate violent incidents recorded during the first 100 days following the outbreak's declaration.
Uganda tightens border controls
Neighbouring Uganda has moved to contain any potential cross-border spread by banning all non-essential travel to and from DR Congo. Ugandan authorities confirmed that citizens returning from the country will be subject to a 21-day quarantine period.
The DR Congo outbreak, which began in May, has now claimed more than 4,800 lives, with nearly 10,000 infections recorded since it was declared.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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