Attacks and strikes hinder Ebola fight in Congo as violence hits health workers

In the province of Ituri, where the outbreak is at its epicentre, efforts to fight the infection are being hampered by security concerns, authorities say.

Many attacks are carried out by angry crowds that have stormed healthcare facilities and targeted healthcare workers in the field, according to Pierre Akilimali, incident manager for the Ebola response.

In Ituri, health workers have left rural communities after protests broke out among residents after a woman died at a local hospital on Wednesday.

In addition, many healthcare workers and others who helped on the front lines have gone on strike over a wage dispute.

So far, 864 Ebola deaths have been confirmed in the country, and 2,181 are infected.