Africa’s top public health body has called for a “corridor of peace” to protect Ebola medics after a raid by Islamic State militants killed dozens of people and led suspected infected patients to flee hospital wards.

At least 33 people were killed in the attack in a corner of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which has become a new front line against the deadly haemorrhagic fever.

Militants of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) group are reported to have shot villagers, or hacked them with machetes during the attack on Cantine-Aloya, in North Kivu province.

Houses and a health post were burned down, and patients at a nearby hospital fled their wards in fear.

Health officials said around 180 patients fled Kelekele hospital following the assault, including suspected Ebola cases, a confirmed patient and individuals identified as high-risk contacts.

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the public health body of the African Union, said the massacre had come at a critical time in…