The United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have condemned the killing of a nurse responding to an Ebola alert in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), calling for the protection of health workers battling the deadly disease.
The nurse was reportedly killed by protesters on Saturday in Bafwasende, a rural town in Tshopo Province, while responding to an Ebola alert, according to a UN statement issued on Tuesday.
Julien Harneis, the UN Senior Ebola Response Coordinator, condemned the attack and called for a thorough investigation into the killing.
“I strongly condemn this attack and call for a thorough investigation. I urge communities to protect health workers and allow them to carry out their work safely,” Harneis said.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also expressed condolences to the nurse’s family and colleagues, while wishing an injured health worker a speedy recovery.
“Everyone working to protect communities from this deadly disease must be able to work in dignity and safety,” Tedros wrote on X, adding that healthcare must always be protected.
The killing comes amid efforts to contain an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine.
According to recent WHO figures cited in the statement, the outbreak has recorded more than 9,760 cases and approximately 4,727 deaths in the DRC since it was declared on May 15.
The outbreak has spread across eight provinces: Bas-Uélé, Haut-Uélé, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Sud-Ubangi, Tshopo and Nord-Ubangi.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has confirmed an Ebola case involving a woman who had visited Uganda.
The woman and her husband, who was identified as a contact, were medically evacuated to Switzerland on Monday morning.
The WHO said both individuals were Swiss citizens and that the woman was clinically stable at the time of evacuation.
Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, commended Nigerian health workers and other officials for managing the patient’s condition and stabilising her during the acute phase of the illness.
“The Nigerian medical team successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilised her condition,” Janabi wrote on X.
He described the response as a remarkable achievement, saying it demonstrated what African countries could accomplish through cooperation.
Janabi said the evacuation meant Nigeria currently had no Ebola cases but stressed the need for continued vigilance.
He added that Nigeria would continue monitoring 52 contacts, while Switzerland would take responsibility for the woman’s continued medical care and follow-up with her husband.
