The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised concerns over a shortage of health workers needed for staff treatment centres in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where Ebola cases have increased by more than 70% in recent weeks.

According to the country’s latest statistics, the outbreak has spread to seven provinces, with more than 7 000 confirmed cases and over 3 500 deaths.

The outbreak continues to unfold, fuelled by a variety of reasons, which include public misinformation, rebel groups who pose security threats, strikes by health workers over payment issues and health teams having to navigate remote, unpaved roads to access affected communities.

Reports indicate that DRC’s North Kivu province has emerged as the latest Ebola outbreak hotspot, with a surge in cases overwhelming local health facilities.

–Reuters–