After attacks, MSF suspends Ebola treatment in epicenter of Congo outbreak

Burned cars are seen after attackers set fire to an Ebola treatment center run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in the east Congolese town of Katwa, Democratic Republic of Congo February 25, 2019. Laurie Bonnaud/MSF/Handout via REUTERS

DAKAR (Reuters) - Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has suspended medical activities at the epicenter of an Ebola epidemic in Democratic Republic of Congo after two of its facilities were torched by unidentified assailants, the French charity said on Thursday.

Two MSF facilities treating Ebola patients in North Kivu province were attacked in separate incidents earlier this week. Aid workers have faced mistrust in some areas as they work to contain the Ebola outbreak, which has become the worst in Congo's history.

"In light of these two violent incidents, we have no choice but to suspend our activities until further notice," MSF Emergency Desk Manager Hugues Robert said in a statement.

Burned structures are seen after attackers set fire to an Ebola treatment center run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in the east Congolese town of Katwa, Democratic Republic of Congo February 25, 2019. Laurie Bonnaud/MSF/Handout via REUTERS

The current Ebola outbreak, first declared last August, is believed to have killed at least 553 people so far and infected over 300 more.

(Reporting by Edward Mcallister; Additional reporting by Fiston Mahamba; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Angus MacSwan)