Get you up to speed: Nurse treating Ebola outbreak patients killed by machete-wielding mob | News World
A nurse assisting with the Ebola outbreak was murdered by a machete-armed gang in Bafwasende, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Health officials reported that the gang targeted the nurse and another medical worker, claiming they were “spreading the disease.”
Health officials confirmed that the nurse was targeted alongside another medical worker, with both accused of contaminating local water sources by a group opposing the Ebola response. The UDPS party reported that a similar incident occurred involving a politician promoting Ebola prevention measures just weeks prior, highlighting ongoing violence against health workers in the region.
In response to the ongoing violence against health workers tackling the Ebola outbreak, the UDPS party condemned the murder of the nurse and called for increased protection for medical personnel. Health officials continue to mobilise resources and security measures to combat misinformation surrounding the disease and safeguard those involved in the response efforts.
What remains unclear — Authorities have not disclosed the identities or number of suspects involved in the politician’s murder.
Nurse treating Ebola patients killed by machete-wielding gang in DRC
The unnamed nurse had been helping to fight the disease outbreak in Bafwasende (Picture: AFP)
A nurse helping to treat Ebola patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was murdered by a machete-armed gang.
The unnamed nurse was helping to fight the disease outbreak, which has killed almost 5,000 people and infected almost 10,000 since May.
Health officials said the nurse, along with a second medical worker, was targeted by the group that claimed the health workers were ‘spreading the disease’ by contaminating local water sources.
The nurse had been working in the town of Bafwasende and raising awareness about the deadly Bundibugyo strain.
Almost 5,000 people have died from the virus (Picture: Reuters)
A similar incident happened in late September, when a politician was beaten to death after speaking about the Ebola outbreak on the radio.
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Marie-Celestin Karondwa, the acting president of the UDPS party in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was attacked in his neighbourhood after the radio show.
The politician had promoted disease prevention measures to tackle the spread of Ebola shortly before being attacked, his party said.
According to the UDPS party, he was beaten and had his belongings stolen before his house was set on fire, Reuters reports.
A politician was beaten to death in late September after speaking about the virus (Picture: AP)
Neither the party nor law enforcement officials have confirmed how many suspected attackers were involved or who they were.
The UDPS federation in Butembo said the politician was an ‘innocent victim for having defended the party’s position on the existence of the Ebola virus disease […] and the threat it poses to the population.’
While it is unclear what the motive was behind the alleged beating, violence against Ebola response teams and health facilities is not uncommon in DRC.
Misinformation and false claims about the disease have fuelled attacks, including unfounded claims that Ebola is not real.
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