Kinshasa, Aug 2026 : The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has claimed the lives of at least 330 children and is placing severe pressure on essential healthcare services, particularly in the worst-affected Ituri Province, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday.
According to UNICEF, the DRC had recorded 743 confirmed Ebola cases among children aged 17 years and below as of August 2. Of these, 330 children had died, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the outbreak on younger age groups.
UNICEF said children account for nearly one-quarter of confirmed cases but almost one-third of reported deaths. Children below the age of five are particularly vulnerable, with their case fatality rate more than twice that recorded among adults.
The organisation warned that the consequences of the outbreak extend beyond Ebola infections, with the wider healthcare system facing significant disruption. Fear of contracting the virus, combined with difficulties in accessing health facilities, has resulted in a sharp decline in childhood immunisation, maternal healthcare and other essential medical services.
John Agbor, UNICEF representative in the DRC, said the Ebola outbreak was disrupting the country's health system and could have serious consequences for children suffering from other illnesses.
He pointed to diseases such as malaria and diarrhoea, which remain major causes of death among children but are treatable when timely medical care is available. Reduced access to healthcare could therefore result in additional preventable deaths.
The worsening situation has also prompted concern from international medical organisations. Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières, warned on Wednesday that the situation in eastern DRC was “more critical than ever”, saying the outbreak was spreading at an alarming pace with no clear indication that transmission was slowing.
As of August 5, the DRC had reported 3,973 confirmed Ebola cases, including 1,801 deaths, since authorities declared the latest outbreak on May 15. The figures underscore the scale of the public health emergency and the challenges facing health workers attempting to contain transmission.
Authorities have also stepped up surveillance to prevent the virus from reaching major population centres. A passenger boat travelling from the outbreak-affected Tshopo province was intercepted after a former passenger suspected of having Ebola died.
The vessel was stopped about 65 km from central Kinshasa after a passenger who had disembarked in neighbouring Mongala province developed symptoms including fever and diarrhoea before dying. Health Minister Roger Kamba said authorities were exercising caution because the case had not been confirmed as Ebola.
A security and health cordon was established around the vessel, while a mobile laboratory was deployed to test passengers and crew members. Government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said health officials were closely monitoring everyone aboard.
The latest developments have heightened concerns over the potential spread of Ebola through population movement. With children already bearing a significant share of the health burden, authorities and humanitarian organisations are working to maintain essential healthcare services while strengthening disease surveillance, vaccination and outbreak-control measures.
The continuing outbreak has also highlighted the importance of protecting routine healthcare systems during emergencies, as disruptions to immunisation, maternal care and treatment for common childhood diseases could compound the humanitarian impact of the Ebola crisis.
(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
