Ebola’s arrival in eastern Congo’s main city of Goma severely raises the risk of the virus spreading if it takes root in this metropolis near the border with Rwanda, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned on Monday. A toxic mix of armed militias and a deep-rooted mistrust of health officials by communities have hampered efforts to halt the virus. “The case in Goma could potentially be a gamechanger in this epidemic,” WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the meeting. A man washes his hands after ebola screening upon entering the General Hospital in Goma, DRC. Apart from insecurity, the biggest challenge is money, officials said.

Source: The Irish Times July 15, 2019 14:26 UTC