Efforts to contain Ebola in eastern Congo are being hampered by repeated attacks on medical staff and treatment sites. Authorities say more than a dozen security incidents have been recorded during the outbreak, raising concerns about how safely teams can operate in the hardest-hit area.
The pressure is especially acute in Ituri province, where fear of violence is limiting the public health response. When health workers cannot move freely or facilities face threats, it becomes harder to monitor cases, treat patients and carry out measures meant to stop the virus from spreading.
The situation has been made worse by labor unrest among health and frontline workers who say they have not been paid. Strikes by unpaid staff are adding another layer of disruption at a time when a sustained response is critical.
Taken together, the violence and staffing problems are complicating an already difficult outbreak response. Officials are facing the challenge of protecting workers and keeping services running while trying to contain Ebola in one of the country's most affected regions.
