Red Cross Reports Three Volunteers Died of Ebola in Congo

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies announced on Saturday that three volunteers from the DR Congo Red Cross died after contracting Ebola while on duty in March. The volunteers worked for the Mongbwalu branch in Djugu territory, Ituri province, the outbreak's epicenter.

They performed dead body management activities on March 27 during a humanitarian mission unrelated to Ebola.

The IFRC statement said the three volunteers were among the first known victims because the community was unaware of the outbreak at the time. One died on May 5 and the other two died on May 15 and 16. The IFRC said the volunteers lost their lives while serving their communities and that it remains committed to supporting affected areas.

The World Health Organization on Friday raised its risk assessment for Congo from high to very high while keeping the regional risk at high and the global risk at low. The agency reported 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths, along with almost 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths.