Kinshasa: The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that 75 healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have contracted Ebola amid the ongoing outbreak. Among those infected, 17 have succumbed to the disease.
According to Qatar News Agency, a WHO emergency official emphasized that this situation poses a significant challenge to the country's healthcare system, which is already under considerable strain due to a shortage of medical personnel. The official highlighted the impact of these infections on the system's capacity to respond effectively to the outbreak.
The WHO noted that some healthcare workers might have been exposed to the virus even before the outbreak was officially confirmed on May 15. This suggests that Ebola had been circulating undetected for several months, complicating efforts to contain the virus's spread.
In response to the crisis, the WHO is also offering psychological support to medical staff who are treating infected patients. This measure aims to alleviate concerns among healthcare workers who are apprehensive about their safety after witnessing colleagues contract the disease.