Armed assailants have taken a woman and her young daughter from a health centre in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said, raising fresh concerns over the spread of Ebola in the region.
The attack took place late on Monday near the city of Butembo in North Kivu province, when individuals carrying bladed weapons forced their way into a clinic and removed the pair, according to a provincial notice.
Authorities said the six-year-old child had already tested positive for Ebola, heightening fears of further transmission following the removal from the facility. The identity of the attackers and their motives remain unclear.
The incident highlights the significant challenges facing efforts to contain the outbreak, particularly in areas affected by insecurity and mistrust of health authorities.
Eastern Congo has long struggled with violence and instability, which has repeatedly disrupted public health operations. Attacks on medical staff and treatment centres have made it more difficult to trace contacts and isolate suspected cases, both critical steps in controlling Ebola.
Health officials have warned that such developments could accelerate the spread of the disease, especially when infected individuals are removed from monitored environments.
The outbreak continues to expand, with confirmed cases increasing to 837, including 196 deaths, according to the latest government data released on Tuesday.
The figures include 29 new cases and four additional deaths reported in the previous 24 hours, underlining the speed at which the virus is spreading.
The abduction has intensified concerns among health authorities that gaps in containment could widen if security conditions do not improve.
Officials say the combination of ongoing violence, population movement and limited access to healthcare continues to complicate the response, raising the risk of further outbreaks in nearby areas.
As efforts to control the virus continue, the latest incident serves as a stark reminder that tackling Ebola in the region is as much a security challenge as it is a public health emergency.
Visitors to Armenia could face temperature screening after a lab worker died from suspected Pneumonic plague in Russia, Yerevan’s Health Mini...
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has called for further integration of infrastructure between regional countries to bolster the ...
The Saudi-led coalition says it has carried out a series of military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen...
Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had been detected among anyone who had come into contact with a Siberian plague institute laboratory worker who died last week, and locals said their lives had barely been disrupted.
Russia struck Ukraine overnight in one of the biggest attacks of the conflict, killing at least 19 people, Kyiv's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Around 70 missiles were fired at Ukraine during the attack, as well as drones, the Ministry said.
An Azerbaijani citizen died and another is missing after a cargo ship was attacked by a drone in the Black Sea, near the coast of Romania on Monday, 5 October, Baku's Foreign Ministry has said.
A large Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region has killed two people, damaged homes and sparked a major fire at a key fuel facility, according to Russian officials and military bloggers.
The German-Azerbaijani Connectivity Conference 2026 commenced on 6 October in Baku under the title “Mobilising Finance for Infrastructure, Transport, Logistics, Green Energy, and Digitalisation along the Middle Corridor.”
Iran says it will deliver its response to recent U.S. proposals through intermediaries, underscoring that communication between the two countries continues indirectly alongside ongoing diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.
International cooperation, lunar exploration and the growing role of artificial intelligence dominated the third day of a major astronautical conference now underway in Antalya.
Armenian authorities have frozen a wide range of assets belonging to billionaire businessman and opposition politician Gagik Tsarukyan as part of proceedings linked to the confiscation of property allegedly acquired illegally.
Azerbaijan has sent another batch of humanitarian aid to Ukraine, consisting of electrical equipment vital for restoring the country’s energy infrastructure and preparing for the winter season.
Russia struck Ukraine overnight in one of the biggest attacks of the conflict, killing at least 19 people, Kyiv's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Around 70 missiles were fired at Ukraine during the attack, as well as drones, the Ministry said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment