A machete-wielding mob killed a nurse and injured another health worker in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as misinformation surrounding the country’s worsening Ebola outbreak triggers a wave of violence against medical personnel.
The attack occurred in Bafwasende, in Tshopo province, where two community outreach workers were reportedly confronted by residents who accused them of deliberately spreading the deadly virus.
According to local officials and an internal memorandum reviewed by Reuters, the victims were an experienced nurse employed at Bafwasende General Hospital and a teacher assisting with public health awareness campaigns.
The pair were visiting a plot of land when nearby residents allegedly began accusing them of contaminating local water supplies with Ebola.
The confrontation escalated as a group of young men armed with machetes and wooden clubs joined the crowd and assaulted the health workers.
The nurse died at the scene before emergency responders could arrive, while his colleague survived with injuries.
Local health authorities expressed shock over the killing, noting that the nurse was widely recognised in the community and had spent years providing medical care to residents.
The attack highlights the growing dangers facing frontline medical personnel as conspiracy theories and false claims undermine efforts to contain the epidemic.
Health workers seek police protection
Following the killing, several medical workers sought refuge inside Bafwasende General Hospital, fearing further attacks.
A local health official told Reuters that nurses were refusing to return to their homes because of threats to their safety.
Police have been deployed to protect hospital staff, while military personnel were temporarily sent to the area following the violence.
The incident follows another reported assault on an Ebola awareness worker whose home was allegedly set ablaze by an angry crowd.
Health facilities, ambulances and medical personnel have increasingly faced hostility in affected communities, with misinformation complicating efforts to identify infections, trace contacts and deliver treatment.
Ebola outbreak approaches 10,000 cases
The Democratic Republic of Congo is battling its largest recorded Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo species of the virus.
According to figures released by the country’s public health institute on Friday, the outbreak has reached 9,964 confirmed cases since its declaration in May, with a reported fatality rate of approximately 48.6 percent.
The epidemic has spread across eight provinces, placing additional pressure on health services already struggling with insecurity and limited resources.
International health officials have warned that attacks on medical personnel could further weaken containment efforts by preventing workers from reaching vulnerable communities.
Julien Harneis, the United Nations’ senior Ebola response coordinator, condemned the killing and called for an investigation.
The World Health Organization has also expressed concern over the violence, warning that protecting frontline personnel is essential to stopping the disease’s spread.
Health authorities continue to urge communities to cooperate with medical teams as the outbreak expands, stressing that misinformation and violence threaten both the Ebola response and the lives of those working to contain it.
