DRC Ebola Death Toll Tops 4,700 as Nurse Slain

A nurse was killed and a second health worker was seriously injured in an attack in Bafwasende, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The assault took place on Saturday in the eastern province of Tshopo. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the incident in a post on X on Sunday. He wrote, "Everyone working to protect communities from this deadly disease must be able to work in dignity and safety. Healthcare must always be protected."

Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the WHO regional director for Africa, also reacted to the violence. He stated, "Health is NOT a target," and noted that fear and misinformation should not drive attacks on responders. Local authorities have not yet commented on the specific attack or named suspects.

This killing follows a pattern of violence against medical staff in the region. Officials say these incidents are slowing containment efforts. Ministry of Health data show the outbreak has produced more than 9,800 cases and over 4,700 deaths since it began in May. These figures make it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in DRC history.

Distrust of the government and chronic corruption have fueled skepticism about the disease. Some residents have dismissed Ebola as a hoax, complicating work in remote areas and new hotspots that lack supplies. In the past month, a politician in North Kivu was beaten to death after defending the government's response on radio. In May, residents burned tents at two health centers in separate attacks within one week.

The outbreak has spread to four countries across eastern, central, and western Africa. This represents the widest geographic spread of any Ebola outbreak on the continent. On Sunday, Uganda's Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi announced that 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 current strain, Bundibugyo, has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Symptoms can take up to 21 days to appear. In an update on October 23, the WHO called for stronger monitoring and cross-border cooperation while advising against travel or trade restrictions on affected nations.