Over 5,400 dead in Congo Ebola outbreak as attacks on health workers hamper containment

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become serious. Health workers and treatment centres in eastern Congo are being attacked repeatedly, making efforts to contain the infection difficult. With the safety of health workers in question, it has become hard to get treatment to patients and to trace infected people.

According to a public health body in Africa, the health system has faced several armed attacks in the past six months. There were four armed attacks and 16 attacks on health workers, and 11 health centres were targeted. In some places centres were burned, and in others they were looted. The intensity of the attacks has increased since the end of September, affecting medical aid and the treatment effort.

In the Kantine-Aloya area of North Kivu province, 66 civilians were killed in an attack by an armed group. Three health workers were among the dead. After the attack, three health centres were looted and set on fire.

The violence has led some patients to leave treatment centres. As a result, the health system is finding it difficult to trace more than a thousand people who came into contact with infected people. Three confirmed patients have also not been traced so far.

Containing the spread of Ebola requires testing patients, isolating them, treating them and tracing their contacts. But continuing violence is disrupting this entire process. The World Health Organization has also said that the lack of security is one of the biggest obstacles to the Ebola control effort.

Congo has so far recorded more than 5,400 deaths and more than 11,000 patients. Protecting health workers, safe treatment centres and getting aid to affected areas have therefore become critically important.