Congo: 160 Ebola cases among medical workers, dozens dead

GENEVA — Around 160 members of medical staff have been infected in the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations announced on Friday.

Julien Harneis, the U.N. Ebola coordinator in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, said that 43 health workers have died from the disease.

According to the authorities, a total of 5,290 cases have been recorded since the outbreak was first reported in May, with 2,516 deaths.

The life-threatening disease continues to spread, Harneis said, adding that much more money is needed to increase the capacity to combat it.

Harneis said it was proving difficult to pay staff needed to look after the contacts of those infected because the airport in Bunia is closed to commercial traffic, which has resulted in banks running out of cash.

This is causing considerable discontent, he said, adding that it is also not possible to transport large sums of cash from the capital to Bunia by car.

According to Harneis, 266 attacks on healthcare facilities and staff have been recorded in Congo over the past six months.

He said people are frightened and disillusioned after years of living in a troubled region marked by fighting and displacement, and in the face of the terrifying disease.