Share

City in Congo's Ebola outbreak attacked by militia; 7 dead

Share

BENI, Congo (AP) — Militia fighters attacked a city at the epicenter of Congo’s Ebola outbreak on Wednesday after threatening health workers in the field, further damaging efforts to contain the deadly disease. At least eight people were killed.

Seven members of a Mai-Mai militia and a police captain were killed, Butembo Mayor Sylvain Kanyamanda said.

“Before this attack on Wednesday, leaflets of May-Mai militia were circulating to tell the teams of foreign doctors to leave the region as soon as possible before the worst happens,” he told The Associated Press.

Ebola response work was again halted following the violence. Attacks on Ebola health centers already have forced Doctors Without Borders and other international aid organizations to leave. Last month an attack on a hospital in Butembo killed a Cameroonian epidemiologist working for the World Health Organization.

More than 1,000 people have died of Ebola in eastern Congo since the outbreak was declared in August. The volatile security situation has impeded efforts to control the virus’ spread as health teams cannot safely go to all the areas where disease transmission is happening.

In addition, about half of the victims are dying at home instead of in a health facility where they would be isolated to prevent Ebola from spreading. These hidden cases have made it difficult for health teams to track the contacts of Ebola patients and vaccinate those most at risk.

Dozens of rebel groups operate in the region including Mai-Mai militias, and political rivalries in part drive community resistance to health workers.

Michael Ryan, WHO’s emergencies chief, told reporters last week that there had been 119 attacks recorded since January including 42 directed at health facilities.

“Every time we have managed to regain control over the virus and contain its spread, we have suffered major, major security events,” Ryan said. “We are anticipating a scenario of continued intense transmission” of the disease.

___

Associated Press writers Krista Larson in Dakar, Senegal and Saleh Mwanamilongo in Kinshasa, Congo contributed.

The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
Share
The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter
The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul.

Today, they operate in 263 locations in more than 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict and producing enterprise reports that tell the world's stories.
Location
New York City




Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.

Conversation