- Health workers in eastern Congo are battling a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak, facing severe mistrust and violence from local communities.
- The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is currently no vaccine or treatment, complicating containment efforts.
- Aid workers have been subjected to stone-pelting, verbal abuse, and attacks on medical facilities, including hospitals and Doctors Without Borders tents.
- Community distrust is fuelled by a history of conflict, weakened disease surveillance, and cultural practices, with some residents denying the virus's existence.
- The World Health Organisation reports over 900 suspected cases and more than 220 suspected deaths, with experts believing the epidemic is larger and was discovered weeks too late.
IN FULL
