Ebola in DR Congo: 66 civilians killed and more than 1,000 contacts lost
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Bénin Web TV, Mediacongo and Actualité.cd
An attack in Cantine-Aloya, in eastern DR Congo, killed 66 civilians, including three health workers, and three health facilities were looted and burned. More than 1,000 contacts of Ebola cases have been lost to follow-up and three confirmed cases remain unaccounted for, according to the WHO, which warns of the consequences of the violence for the epidemic response.
The attack carried out on the night of 5 to 6 November in Cantine-Aloya, North Kivu, killed 66 civilians, including three health workers, according to the WHO. Three health facilities were looted and burned, compromising Ebola response activities.
More than 1,000 people identified as contacts of Ebola cases have been lost to follow-up and three people whose infections have been confirmed could not be located. Cantine-Aloya is about 50 kilometres west of Beni.
The WHO also reports that a nurse was killed and another health worker seriously injured two weeks earlier in Tshopo while responding to an Ebola alert. Threats against health workers, an attempted arson attack at a treatment centre and other incidents targeting health teams have also been reported.
As of 11 November, nearly 11,000 confirmed cases and more than 5,300 deaths had been recorded in DR Congo, with eight provinces affected. Transmission is slowing in some areas, but new outbreaks are emerging, while the WHO is calling on states and their partners to protect health workers and allow teams to reach populations.
