Nurse killed in attack while responding to Ebola alert in DR Congo

DR CONGO: A nurse has been killed and another health worker seriously injured in an attack as they were responding to an Ebola alert in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The two were targeted by local youths who accused them of contaminating water sources and spreading the Ebola virus, according to the UN-backed Radio Okapi. The World Health Organization (WHO) condemned the attack.

In an attempt to prevent the virus spreading, neighbouring Uganda has banned all non-essential travel to and from DR Congo and says its citizens returning from there will be quarantined for 21 days.

More than 4,800 people have died and nearly 10,000 been infected in DR Congo since this outbreak began in May.

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Reacting to the attack in DR Congo, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said health workers “must be able to carry out their duties in safety and dignity”, adding that healthcare personnel should always be protected.

The UN agency also extended its condolences to the family and colleagues of the nurse who was killed and wished the injured worker a swift recovery.

The BBC has contacted the Ebola response team for comment on the circumstances surrounding the attack in DR Congo.

Earlier this month, two countries – Kenya and Nigeria – reported their first cases of Ebola linked to the current outbreak.