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.
Kyrgyzstan has unveiled plans to significantly expand its protected natural areas, bringing more high-altitude glaciers, mountain landscapes and st...
U.S. President Donald Trump said early Wednesday that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky...
At least 35 people have been killed after two high-speed trains collided in Spain on Wednesday, in the second deadly rail disaster in less tha...
Despite losing his bloc's majority in Israel's 120-seat Knesset in a hotly contested election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has managed to remain in the lead after 70 per cent of votes were tallied on Wednesday. Figures are subject to change as counting continues.
Russia and Ukraine have begun a regional ceasefire to allow the start of a humanitarian effort in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, both sides said on Tuesday, but they continue strikes elsewhere, including the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
Nearly two years after the 20 October 2024 parliamentary elections, Iraq’s Kurdistan Region remains without a cabinet. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) won 39 of 100 seats and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) 23, leaving neither able to govern alone.
Russian strikes hit several parts of Ukraine overnight, injuring at least six people and targeting energy and port infrastructure, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said U.S. warnings about imminent Russian ballistic missile attacks had resumed.
The Pentagon is prepared to launch potentially major military operations against Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order from U.S. President Donald Trump, with sufficient forces already deployed in the Middle East, according to a CNN report.
U.S. President Donald Trump said early Wednesday that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would be arranged soon, while leaving the door open to further U.S. strikes on Iran following next week's midterm elections.
At least 35 people have been killed after two high-speed trains collided in Spain on Wednesday, in the second deadly rail disaster in less than a year on a major route linking Madrid with the southern Andalusia region.
Azerbaijan has called for stronger international cooperation against corruption and cross-border financial crime as senior officials from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) gathered in Baku on Wednesday, 28 October.
Qatari mediators have presented Iran with a new proposal to end the war with the U.S. and Israel, with Tehran expected to respond by the end of the week, according to an official briefed on the negotiations.
Despite losing his bloc's majority in Israel's 120-seat Knesset in a hotly contested election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has managed to remain in the lead after 70 per cent of votes were tallied on Wednesday. Figures are subject to change as counting continues.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment