Representational file photo.
Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) says 75 healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been infected with Ebola during the current outbreak, with 17 deaths reported among them.
A WHO emergency official described the toll as a major blow to the country's already stretched healthcare system, which faces a severe shortage of medical staff.
The agency said some health workers may have been exposed to the virus before authorities officially confirmed the outbreak on May 15, suggesting Ebola had been spreading undetected for months.
WHO said it is also providing psychological support to medical personnel concerned about treating infected patients after colleagues contracted the disease.
