World

DR Congo Ebola deaths pass 1,000

May 4, 2019 8:41 am

The death toll from the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has passed 1,000, the health ministry says.

DRC’s Ebola outbreak began in August and is the second deadliest in history.

World Health Organization deputy director Dr Michael Ryan said mistrust and violence was harming efforts to tackle the disease as it spread through the east of the country.

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There have been 119 documented attacks on medical centres and staff since January, Dr Ryan said.

WHO staff anticipated “continued intense transmission”, he added, in a briefing to reporters in Geneva.

Health workers have plenty of vaccines – more than 100,000 people have already been given the treatment. But continuing violence in the east of the country where militias are present, as well as mistrust of doctors, was hindering their programme, Dr Ryan said.