Three Ebola workers in eastern DR Congo have been killed, adding to the toll of people who have died fighting the nearly 16-month-old epidemic, a local UN source said Thursday.

A person working for the Congolese health ministry and two drivers were killed overnight Wednesday when an armed group attacked a complex in Biakato, Ituri province, where Ebola workers lived, the source said.

One person is reported missing and five others wounded, the source said.

Another attack, in Mangina, which is also in Ituri province, was repelled.

"Attacks by armed groups in Biakato Mines and Mangina in #DRC have resulted in deaths and injuries amongst #Ebola responders," World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a tweet.&nbsp;

"We are heartbroken that our worst fears have been realised. Our focus is caring for the wounded and ensuring staff at other locations are safe."

An outbreak of the much-feared haemorrhagic virus has killed 2,199 in North and South Kivu and Ituri provinces since August 1, 2018, according to the latest official figures.

It is the Democratic Republic of Congo's 10th Ebola epidemic and the second deadliest on record after an outbreak that struck West Africa in 2014-16, claiming more than 11,300 lives.

Insecurity has complicated the epidemic from the outset, compounding resistance within communities to preventative measures, care facilities and safe burials.

On November 4, the authorities said more than 300 attacks on Ebola health workers had been recorded since the start of the year, leaving six dead and 70 wounded, some of them patients.&nbsp;

Vast tracts of eastern DRC are in the grip of armed groups, especially a shadowy militia called the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

The armed forces launched an offensive in the region on October 30, prompting a wave of massacres of civilians by suspected ADF men.

Ninety-nine people have been killed by armed groups in the Beni area alone since November 5, according to the not-for-profit Congo Research Group (CRG).

The bloodshed has sparked a wave of anger at the authorities and the UN mission in the DRC, MONUSCO. Seven people have died in protests since Saturday.

Three Ebola workers in eastern DR Congo have been killed, adding to the toll of people who have died fighting the nearly 16-month-old epidemic, a local UN source said Thursday.

Three Ebola workers in eastern DR Congo have been killed, adding to the toll of people who have died fighting the nearly 16-month-old epidemic, a local UN source said Thursday. A person working for the Congolese health ministry and two drivers were killed overnight Wednesday when an armed group attacked a complex in Biakato, Ituri province, where Ebola workers lived, the source said. One person is reported missing and five others wounded, the source said. Another attack, in Mangina, which is also in Ituri province, was repelled. "Attacks by armed groups in Biakato Mines and Mangina in #DRC have resulted in deaths and injuries amongst #Ebola responders," World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a tweet. "We are heartbroken that our worst fears have been realised. Our focus is caring for the wounded and ensuring staff at other locations are safe." An outbreak of the much-feared haemorrhagic virus has killed 2,199 in North and South Kivu and Ituri provinces since August 1, 2018, according to the latest official figures. It is the Democratic Republic of Congo's 10th Ebola epidemic and the second deadliest on record after an outbreak that struck West Africa in 2014-16, claiming more than 11,300 lives. Insecurity has complicated the epidemic from the outset, compounding resistance within communities to preventative measures, care facilities and safe burials. On November 4, the authorities said more than 300 attacks on Ebola health workers had been recorded since the start of the year, leaving six dead and 70 wounded, some of them patients. Vast tracts of eastern DRC are in the grip of armed groups, especially a shadowy militia called the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The armed forces launched an offensive in the region on October 30, prompting a wave of massacres of civilians by suspected ADF men. Ninety-nine people have been killed by armed groups in the Beni area alone since November 5, according to the not-for-profit Congo Research Group (CRG). The bloodshed has sparked a wave of anger at the authorities and the UN mission in the DRC, MONUSCO. Seven people have died in protests since Saturday.

Three Ebola workers killed in troubled eastern DR Congo: UN

The World Health Organization reported a new incidence of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/first-ebola-patient-in-eastern-congos-main-city-dies-236497&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiY2qrd-bvjAhU463MBHbv0AiMQFjABegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1LZU9STBUo4EzS2VTy-J6B">Ebola</a> in Uganda on Wednesday, fuelling concerns that the virus may be spreading beyond Democratic Republic of Congo, as an expert panel weighs whether to sound the alarm internationally.

The WHO said a Congolese fisherwoman travelled across the border to sell fish at Mpondwe market on July 11, where she had four vomiting incidents before returning to Congo and dying of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/first-ebola-patient-in-eastern-congos-main-city-dies-236497&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiY2qrd-bvjAhU463MBHbv0AiMQFjABegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1LZU9STBUo4EzS2VTy-J6B">Ebola</a>.

Ebola is highly infectious and spread through bodily fluids. The current outbreak, largely confined to Congo apart from three deaths in Uganda last month, has killed 1,676 people - more than two-thirds of those who contracted it - over the past year.

The health response relies on tracking down people who may have been exposed to the virus and vaccinating them and anybody they have had contact with.

The WHO report said 19 other fishmongers were listed as possible contacts in the Uganda incident. It said 44 currency exchange workers had volunteered to be vaccinated, while another 590 fishmongers could be targeted for vaccination.

Local leaders were very cooperative, but none of the market traders were willing to provide further information for fear of losing business, given that it was a market day, the WHO added.

WATCH : Ebola Virus reaches Goma in Dr Congo

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Health workers had not established where the fishmonger spent nights, how she travelled or who transported her merchandise, or who cleaned up her vomit.

News of the incident came as the WHO's emergency committee of international experts met for a fourth time to decide if the 11-month outbreak constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern" (PHEIC).

Such a designation would include recommendations for international action and could help unlock funds, which the WHO has said are sorely needed.

It would be only the fifth such designation, after the 2013-2016 West African Ebola epidemic that killed over 11,300 people, the 2009 flu pandemic, polio in 2014 and the Zika virus that caused a spate of birth defects across Latin America.

Last month the committee decided against declaring a PHEIC because the potential disruption risked causing economic harm while achieving nothing.

But WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this week that a case of the highly infectious disease in Goma was a potential gamechanger since Ebola could spread among the urban population for the first time and into neighbouring Rwanda.

A separate WHO report said there was also very high risk in the Arua district of Uganda, which borders a Congolese area where an Ebola patient died after having had contact with over 200 people. Two deaths in Arua were under investigation.

The World Health Organization reported a new incidence of Ebola in Uganda on Wednesday, fuelling concerns that the virus may be spreading beyond Democratic Republic of Congo, as an expert panel weighs whether to sound the alarm internationally.

The World Health Organization reported a new incidence of Ebola in Uganda on Wednesday, fuelling concerns that the virus may be spreading beyond Democratic Republic of Congo, as an expert panel weighs whether to sound the alarm internationally. The WHO said a Congolese fisherwoman travelled across the border to sell fish at Mpondwe market on July 11, where she had four vomiting incidents before returning to Congo and dying of Ebola. Ebola is highly infectious and spread through bodily fluids. The current outbreak, largely confined to Congo apart from three deaths in Uganda last month, has killed 1,676 people - more than two-thirds of those who contracted it - over the past year. The health response relies on tracking down people who may have been exposed to the virus and vaccinating them and anybody they have had contact with. The WHO report said 19 other fishmongers were listed as possible contacts in the Uganda incident. It said 44 currency exchange workers had volunteered to be vaccinated, while another 590 fishmongers could be targeted for vaccination. Local leaders were very cooperative, but none of the market traders were willing to provide further information for fear of losing business, given that it was a market day, the WHO added. WATCH : Ebola Virus reaches Goma in Dr Congo × Health workers had not established where the fishmonger spent nights, how she travelled or who transported her merchandise, or who cleaned up her vomit. News of the incident came as the WHO's emergency committee of international experts met for a fourth time to decide if the 11-month outbreak constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern" (PHEIC). Such a designation would include recommendations for international action and could help unlock funds, which the WHO has said are sorely needed. It would be only the fifth such designation, after the 2013-2016 West African Ebola epidemic that killed over 11,300 people, the 2009 flu pandemic, polio in 2014 and the Zika virus that caused a spate of birth defects across Latin America. Last month the committee decided against declaring a PHEIC because the potential disruption risked causing economic harm while achieving nothing. But WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this week that a case of the highly infectious disease in Goma was a potential gamechanger since Ebola could spread among the urban population for the first time and into neighbouring Rwanda. A separate WHO report said there was also very high risk in the Arua district of Uganda, which borders a Congolese area where an Ebola patient died after having had contact with over 200 people. Two deaths in Arua were under investigation.

World Health Organisation reports new Ebola incident in Uganda amid fears of virus spreading

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that air pollution is the “new tobacco.''&nbsp;

Over 90% of the world's population suffers from toxic air and it's creating a profound effect on the health of people, he said.

Ghebreyesus said that the simple act of breathing is killing 7 million people a year and harming billions more.

According to WHO director, no rich or poor can escape air pollution and that it is a silent public health emergency.&nbsp;

Most to be affected by this pollution are children and babies' developing bodies said Dr Maria Neira, WHO director for public health and the environment.

Tedro said that a clean and healthy environment is the single most important precondition for ensuring good health.

Next week, WHO is hosting its first global conference on air pollution and health in Geneva, which also includes a high-level action day at which nations and cities are expected to make new commitments to cut air pollution.

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that air pollution is the “new tobacco.'' Over 90% of the world's population suffers from toxic air and it's creating a profound effect on the health of people, he said.

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that air pollution is the “new tobacco.'' Over 90% of the world's population suffers from toxic air and it's creating a profound effect on the health of people, he said. Ghebreyesus said that the simple act of breathing is killing 7 million people a year and harming billions more. According to WHO director, no rich or poor can escape air pollution and that it is a silent public health emergency. Most to be affected by this pollution are children and babies' developing bodies said Dr Maria Neira, WHO director for public health and the environment. Tedro said that a clean and healthy environment is the single most important precondition for ensuring good health. Next week, WHO is hosting its first global conference on air pollution and health in Geneva, which also includes a high-level action day at which nations and cities are expected to make new commitments to cut air pollution.

Air pollution is the 'new tobacco': WHO Director General Tedros