Angry Mob Attacks Ebola Center in Congo: Patients Escape, Health Workers Abandon Facility

An angry mob has attacked an Ebola treatment center in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following the death of a woman who had been admitted to give birth. The incident occurred at Nyakunde Hospital in the Ituri province. François Berocan Uderos, a medical biologist at the hospital, described the events: 'A woman who had come to give birth developed severe anemia. Her relatives offered to donate blood, but due to the Ebola outbreak, blood transfusions are not allowed at the hospital.' Uderos stated that after the woman's death, the mob attacked the hospital, damaging the perimeter fence and throwing stones. As a result, some of the Ebola patients being treated at the hospital escaped. The health team has abandoned the facility, and the generator that powers the hospital is no longer working. As of Thursday morning, three Ebola patients remained at the hospital. Authorities say the attack highlights one of the biggest challenges in the fight against Ebola in eastern Congo: the mistrust of health teams, resistance from the community, and security issues. Similar attacks on health centers occurred during the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak, which killed more than 25 health workers. The increasing security risks have also prompted health workers to threaten a strike, citing low wages, harsh working conditions, and the threat to their personal safety.