Ebola Misinformation Fuels Violence in DR Congo
Misinformation surrounding the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is fueling violence against health workers and disrupting efforts to contain the disease, according to humanitarian organizations and medical officials. One of the latest incidents occurred in Bunia, where Red Cross volunteer Daniel Uyirwoth Welo and three colleagues were attacked while transporting the body of an Ebola victim for a safe burial. Welo said they were assaulted by a crowd armed with tools, including spades and machetes, after false rumours spread that the coffin was empty and that Ebola was not real. The attack reflects growing resistance to public health measures during the outbreak, which has infected more than 1,750 people and claimed around 600 lives since mid-May, according to official figures. Aid agencies say misinformation has led some communities to reject medical advice, interfere with burials and […]
