Ebola-hit DR Congo faces 'catastrophic collision' of disease and conflict, WHO warns
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo is hampering efforts to stop the spread of Ebola. He warned of a 'catastrophic collision' between the disease and the conflict.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being seriously disrupted by fighting in the east of the country. He described the situation as a 'catastrophic collision' between disease and armed conflict.
According to the WHO, security problems are making it harder for health teams to reach affected areas and to carry out contact tracing and vaccination. Tedros appealed to the warring parties for a ceasefire that would allow humanitarian access so the outbreak can be brought under control.
Eastern DR Congo has for years faced fighting between armed groups, and millions of people have been displaced. The course of the outbreak will depend both on the resilience of the health system and on security conditions on the ground. This article is for general information and is not medical advice.
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