A six-year-old girl with Ebola who was abducted from a treatment centre in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been found safe, bringing a moment of respite to a nation grappling with the world's second-worst outbreak of the disease. The child was snatched from a clinic in the city of Beni on Tuesday evening, sparking a frantic search by health workers and security forces. She was discovered early Thursday morning, unharmed, in a nearby village.
The motive for the abduction remains unclear, but it highlights the deep mistrust and violence that have hampered efforts to contain the virus in the volatile eastern region. The girl's family, who were present during the abduction, have been reunited with her, and she continues to receive treatment for Ebola. The incident is a stark reminder of the challenges facing medics battling the outbreak in a conflict zone, where armed groups operate freely and suspicion of outsiders runs high.
Tonight, there is relief, but the fear remains that such attacks could undermine the fragile progress made against the epidemic.
