Geneva - The World Health Organization (WHO) is suspending
parts of its effort to fight Ebola in the Congo after a string of
attacks by militants, the UN agency said Tuesday.
Ebola has claimed 100 lives since the deadly virus outbreak started
nearly two months ago in North Kivu, a north-eastern border region
where more than 100 armed groups operate.
After 21 people died in an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces
rebels in the city of Beni on Saturday, community groups called for
days of mourning and protests that are expected to last at least
until Friday.
WHO staff are confined to hotels and their operating centre in Beni
for security reasons so their ability to track potential new
infections has fallen sharply, WHO's emergency response chief Peter
Salama told a press conference in Geneva.
"We are now extremely concerned that several factors may be coming
together in the next weeks or months to create a potentially perfect
storm," the Australian epidemiologist added.
In addition to the security risk, a minority of the local population
is deeply mistrustful of government and UN health workers. Some
potentially infected people have fled treatment.
Politicians in the region are also stoking the mistrust ahead of
upcoming elections in December, Salama said Tuesday.
As a result, the outbreak has spread over a wider region including an
area bordering Uganda.
The possibility of a cross-border-spread of Ebola has increased and
Uganda "is facing an imminent threat," Salama added.