A young medical doctor, Marie-France Shogogo, has died after contracting the Ebola virus while treating infected patients in Beni, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Jean Kaseya, announced the development in a post on his official X account.
Kaseya disclosed that Shogogo contracted the deadly virus in the course of her medical duties while attending to patients in Beni.
He noted that the deceased was among the frontline health workers involved in efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the country.
Her death has renewed concerns over the safety of healthcare workers, particularly those directly involved in treating infected persons and managing the outbreak.
Beni, located in eastern DR Congo, is among the areas that have recorded Ebola cases in previous outbreaks, with several fatalities reported.
The development has further highlighted the risks faced by medical personnel working in affected communities and the need to strengthen infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities.
Health authorities in DR Congo have called for increased support and the provision of adequate protective equipment for healthcare workers to minimise the risk of further infections and deaths.
Meanwhile, the Africa CDC said it was working with the DR Congo government to contain the spread of the virus and support ongoing response efforts.
The death of Shogogo underscores the dangers faced by frontline health workers in the fight against Ebola and the importance of protecting medical personnel as efforts to control the outbreak continue.