Nurse killed in DRC town during Ebola response

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, announced on Sunday that a nurse was killed and another health worker seriously injured in Bafwasende. The attack occurred on Saturday in the town located in the eastern Tshopo province. Ghebreyesus stated that people working to protect communities must be able to work in dignity and safety. He added that healthcare must always be protected.

The current outbreak has produced the deadliest Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s history. DRC Ministry of Health data show more than 9,800 cases and over 4,700 deaths since the outbreak began in May. Authorities describe the situation as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in the world. Local officials have not yet commented on the specific incident in Bafwasende or named any suspects.

Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the WHO regional director for Africa, condemned the violence on social media. He said health is not a target and that misinformation and fear should not fuel attacks on responders. Responders report that community distrust has complicated their work in remote areas and emerging hotspots. Some residents have dismissed the disease as a hoax, a view fueled by government handling of the crisis and chronic corruption.

Violence against medical staff has become a recurring pattern in the region. In September, a DRC politician was beaten to death in North Kivu after defending government measures on a radio show. In May, angry residents set fire to tents at two health centers in separate attacks within one week. Teams have also reported holding captive residents or threatening staff in designated health zones.

The outbreak has spread to four countries across eastern, central, and western Africa. This marks the widest geographic spread of any Ebola outbreak on the continent. On Sunday, Uganda’s Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi announced that all citizens returning from the DRC will be quarantined for 21 days. Uganda had declared its latest outbreak over in July, but two people who passed through the country later tested positive in Kenya and Nigeria.

The Bundibugyo strain responsible for the current outbreak has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Symptoms can take up to 21 days to appear after infection. In an update on October 23, the WHO called for stronger monitoring and cross-border cooperation. The agency advised against travel or trade restrictions on affected nations.

Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people. The attack in Bafwasende adds to the pressure on health workers who must operate in areas with limited supplies and staff. The WHO continues to track cases as the disease moves across borders in the region.