Nurse killed in Congo town as Ebola cases top 9,800

A nurse died and a colleague was seriously injured when attackers struck a health team in Bafwasende, a town in the eastern province of Tshopo, on Saturday. The World Health Organization confirmed the incident on Sunday, noting that the staff were actively responding to an Ebola alert when the violence occurred.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, posted a statement on X condemning the assault. He wrote that everyone working to protect communities from the disease must be able to work with dignity and safety, and that healthcare must always be protected. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the WHO regional director for Africa, also criticized the violence online, stating that health is not a target and that fear should not fuel attacks on responders.

The attack adds to a growing list of incidents that have slowed containment efforts. The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ministry of Health reports more than 9,800 confirmed cases and over 4,700 deaths since the outbreak began in May. These figures make it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history. Officials say that distrust of the government, partly driven by chronic corruption, has led some residents to question the reality of the virus, complicating work in remote areas.

Violence against health workers has become a recurring theme. Last month, a politician in North Kivu was beaten to death after using a radio show to defend the government's response. In May, angry residents burned tents at two health centers within one week. Responders also report that some residents have held team members captive or threatened them in designated health zones.

The outbreak has now spread to four countries across eastern, central, and western Africa. On Sunday, Uganda’s health minister, Chris Baryomunsi, announced that all citizens returning from the DRC will be quarantined for 21 days. Uganda declared its previous 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 surge has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, with symptoms taking up to 21 days to appear.

Local authorities in Bafwasende have not yet commented on the attack or identified any suspects. The WHO issued an update on October 23 calling for stronger cross-border monitoring while advising against new travel or trade restrictions on affected nations.