Congo Ebola health workers protest unpaid wages

Dozens of health workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo staged protests in Democratic Republic of the Congo — Bunia, the capital of Democratic Republic of the Congo — Ituri Province, demanding unpaid wages and bonuses for their Ebola response work. The protests, which began weeks ago, led to the abandonment of several health facilities at the epicenter of the world's second-largest Ebola outbreak. Confirmed cases reached 3,973 with 1,801 deaths as of Tuesday, according to government data. The outbreak, declared in mid-May, is spreading at an alarming rate, with 60-70% of new cases coming from outside traced contacts, often in remote areas affected by rebel conflict and mining-related movement. Health workers have also faced attacks from rebels and angry mobs. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited the DRC on Wednesday and urged authorities to prioritize care and support for responders. Médecins Sans Frontières warned that the response is not reaching communities quickly enough to break transmission chains. The protests add to the challenges of containing the outbreak.