Ghebreyesus urges safety for staff after Tshopo nurse killed in Ebola response

A nurse died and another health worker suffered serious injuries in an attack in Bafwasende, a town in the eastern province of Tshopo, according to the World Health Organization. The assault occurred on Saturday while the team was responding to an Ebola alert.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO, announced the incident on X on Sunday. He stated that everyone protecting communities from the disease must work in dignity and safety. "Healthcare must always be protected," Ghebreyesus wrote.

The death is the latest in a series of incidents that authorities say are slowing containment efforts. The outbreak, which began in May, has resulted in more than 9,800 cases and over 4,700 deaths, making it the deadliest in the country's history. Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the WHO's regional director for Africa, condemned the violence on social media. "Health is NOT a target," he said, noting that fear and misinformation should not fuel attacks on responders.

Local distrust complicates the response. Some residents have dismissed the virus as a hoax, a sentiment fueled by the government's handling of the crisis and chronic corruption. Responders report that this skepticism makes work difficult in remote areas and emerging hotspots that already lack supplies and staff.

Violence against health personnel has followed a consistent pattern. Last month, a politician in North Kivu was beaten to death after defending government measures on a radio show. In May, residents burned tents at two health centres within a week. Some residents have also held team members captive or threatened them in designated health zones.

The outbreak has now been reported in four countries, marking the widest geographic spread of any Ebola outbreak in Africa. On Sunday, Uganda's Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi announced that all citizens returning from the DRC will face a 21-day quarantine. Uganda declared its latest outbreak over in July, but two people who passed through the country later tested positive in Kenya and Nigeria.

The current outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo strain, which has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Symptoms can take up to 21 days to appear. On October 23, the WHO called for stronger monitoring and cross-border cooperation while advising against travel or trade restrictions on affected nations.