First UN staff member infected with Ebola

goma - An employee of the United Nations has contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is evident from an internal UN announcement that has been viewed by the Reuters news agency. It is known to be the first employee of the international organization who became infected with the deadly virus during the current outbreak.

UN official Leila Zerrougui writes in the memo that the patient is an employee in the city of Beni. 'He now receives the necessary medical treatment', says Zerrougui. UN mission MONUSCO did not want to respond and states that only internal communication about the case is made.

In and around Beni, a relatively large number of infection cases have been detected in the past month. Attacks of rebels have hindered aid. Peter Salama of the World Health Organization expressed the expectation that it will take at least three to four months to suppress the current outbreak of Ebola.

Salama also stated that in Beni dozens of people are hiding who may have been exposed to the virus. This increases the likelihood that the virus can get further around itself.