Two Red Cross volunteers have died from suspected Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the UK Government announced an emergency medical deployment to contain the outbreak. The deaths, confirmed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, have raised fears of a wider spread of the virus in the conflict-ravaged North Kivu region. The volunteers, who were involved in community outreach and burial duties, fell ill last week and died in separate health facilities.
British officials said a team of 50 military medics and public health experts would be dispatched to support the World Health Organisation and local authorities. The move comes after the UK pledged £20 million in aid and vaccine funds. Local health workers have warned that insecurity and community mistrust are hampering efforts to trace contacts and isolate suspected cases.
The Ebola outbreak, first declared in August, has already killed over 200 people. The Red Cross said the volunteers' deaths are a tragic reminder of the risks faced by frontline workers in the outbreak zone.
