Eastern Congo sees a third attack on health centers treating Ebola
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Angry young men attacked Monbgwalu General Hospital in eastern Congo, forcing evacuation of Ebola patients and staff amid gunfire; attackers demanded bodies of their kin, highlighting tensions around handling Ebola victims.
- This attack is the third on healthcare facilities in a week, underscoring challenges in managing the outbreak, which WHO has declared a public health emergency of international concern.
- Authorities have banned funeral gatherings over 50 people to curb Ebola spread, but resistance from families has led to violent incidents, including a recent arson attack on a Doctors Without Borders Ebola tent.
- The Congolese Ministry of Communication reported 904 suspected Ebola cases and 119 deaths, mostly in Ituri Province, though regional death totals suggest discrepancies; no vaccine exists for the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain involved.
- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies confirmed three volunteer deaths from the outbreak, potentially indicating the virus circulated undetected since March, earlier than previously thought.