How Ebola misinformation is fuelling violent attacks against health workers
Misinformation regarding the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo is leading to violent attacks against health workers and medical facilities. Reports indicate that false rumors about the disease's existence and the motives of aid workers are hindering containment efforts.
Why it matters
Public health crises are exacerbated by the spread of misinformation, which directly threatens the safety of medical personnel and the efficacy of disease control.
By Marco Silva , BBC Verify and Peter Mwai , BBC Verify Published 28 minutes ago "They grabbed me from behind and started punching me, hitting me with spades and machetes," says Daniel Uyirwoth Welo, one of four Red Cross volunteers injured when a crowd tried to open a coffin carrying someone who had died from Ebola.
The article relies on verified reports and eyewitness accounts to document a public health issue.
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