Ebola in the DRC: “The best remedy is peace” — WHO chief warns of the impact of violence in the east after attacks on health facilities

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that violence in eastern DR Congo is hampering the response to the Ebola outbreak, which has been ongoing since May 15. An Ebola treatment centre in Beni was attacked on November 6, with police stopping an attempted arson; in the Mabalako health zone, attacks on November 5 and 6 set three health facilities on fire and killed patients. The violence drove residents, including people being monitored after contact with Ebola cases, to flee, and response teams suspended planned activities on November 6 because of insecurity. Tedros said insecurity disrupts surveillance, care and contact follow-up while increasing the risk of the virus spreading.