BAFWASENDE, Democratic Republic of the Congo — October 26, 2026

A nurse has been killed and another health worker seriously injured in an attack on an Ebola response team in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, raising fresh concerns about the safety of frontline medical personnel during the country's deadly outbreak.

The attack occurred on Saturday, October 24, in Bafwasende, Tshopo Province, as health workers were responding to an Ebola alert, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The incident was reported publicly on October 26.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned the violence, while WHO Africa Regional Director Mohamed Yakub Janabi stressed that health workers must be protected as they work to safeguard communities.

The incident comes as the DRC confronts a severe outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease, a rare form of Ebola. Medical teams are working to identify infections, trace contacts, provide care and inform communities about how the disease spreads.

Attacks on health workers can delay investigations, discourage people from seeking medical assistance and make it harder for response teams to reach potentially affected communities. Public trust and cooperation are especially important when health authorities need to investigate alerts quickly.

Local authorities had not publicly identified suspects or provided further details about the attack in the reports available at publication time.

The immediate priority is to protect health workers and allow Ebola response teams to operate safely. Health officials have also urged communities to rely on credible public-health information and avoid allowing fear or misinformation to undermine the response.

The full impact of the attack on local surveillance and response activities remains unclear. Further updates from health authorities are expected to clarify the circumstances and any additional security measures.