Massive outbreak of Ebola virus in WEEKS: "Perfect Storm" in Congo, according to WHO | World | New

Speaking at a press conference at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Dr. Peter Salama said that violence between armed groups, the resistance of the community to the leaders' councils public health and the spread of the disease aggravated the situation.

He said: "We are now extremely concerned that several factors could come together over the next few weeks and months to create a perfect storm.

"The response faces a series of serious obstacles.

"The first is insecurity. We have seen an increase in the frequency and severity of attacks by armed opposition groups in recent weeks, particularly attacks by the Alliance for Democratic Forces, but also by other armed opposition groups. "

The past few weeks have been characterized by "indiscriminate" attacks against civilians, including one that left at least 21 dead.

The problems were compounded by ignorance of the disease in some areas.

Dr. Salama stated that most community members were engaging with health workers but said:

we see really difficult pockets of reluctance, refusal and resistance from the community.

"In particular, there has been one in and around Beni in a small village called NDingi, which has been responsible for a lot of the cases over the last few weeks.

"This resistance caused by the natural fear of this terrifying disease is starting to be exploited by local politicians and we are very concerned by the elections scheduled for December, that the exploitation of this very natural fear will gain momentum and will make it is even more difficult to eliminate the latest cases of Ebola. "

A small number of people refusing active follow-up, refusing to be treated in the Ebola treatment unit and actively fleeing forest workers, for hundreds of kilometers in some cases, he added .

He added: "We now have a wide geographic spread of Ebola in the red zones from a security point of view and in larger areas with neighboring countries such as Uganda.

WHO's warnings echo those of Dr. Inger Damon of the US-based Center for Disease Control, who told Express.co.uk earlier this month:

"A good engagement with the community is essential.

"If they do not have the right kind of information, they tend to be very responsive.