DR Congo: Ebola spreads as agencies brace for child victims

DR Congo: Ebola Spreads as Agencies Prepare for Surge in Child Cases

DR Congo - The Ebola epidemic in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is intensifying, with health officials warning that the virus could soon affect more children. This growing concern was highlighted by UN agencies on Friday, as they emphasized the urgent need for expanded interventions to protect the region’s young population.

“Every day, we are identifying cases in new health zones. This reflects the true extent of the outbreak, which is much larger than what is currently being recorded. The population’s high mobility in this area of the DRC is contributing to the virus’s spread,” said Dr. Olivier le Polain, head of epidemiology and analytics at the World Health Organization (WHO).

Since the outbreak was officially confirmed three weeks ago, the DRC health ministry has documented 676 cases and 136 fatalities linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a rare variant known for its aggressive transmission. The affected zone now stretches from Aru, a town in northern Ituri province, to Miti Murhesa in South Kivu, covering over 1,000 kilometers. Dr. le Polain, speaking from Beni via videolink to journalists in Geneva, noted that 34 health zones have been impacted, with new areas in North Kivu reporting infections just days prior.

Experts warn that the region’s youth are at heightened risk due to factors like malnutrition and limited access to vaccines. The humanitarian crisis in the area, fueled by decades of conflict between government forces and armed groups, has left many families struggling to meet basic needs. This vulnerability is compounded by the fact that the Bundibugyo strain spreads more rapidly than previous variants, making children especially susceptible to infection.

“Most cases so far have involved adults, but as the outbreak progresses, household transmission is expected to rise. This means we may see a sharp increase in child infections in the coming days,” warned Dr. Douglas Noble, UNICEF’s Global Lead for Public Health Emergencies and Global Incident Manager for Ebola.

Dr. Noble added that the community’s ability to cope with the outbreak is already strained. Over half of children under five in Ituri province suffer from chronic malnutrition, and nearly 22% have not received their first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine. These statistics underscore the severity of the situation, as malnourished children face a higher likelihood of severe illness and death once infected.

Efforts to track the virus have improved, with contact tracing now reaching just over 70% of individuals exposed to the disease. Dr. le Polain acknowledged this progress, though he stressed that the current rate remains insufficient to fully contain the outbreak. “We’re still in the early stages of understanding the full scale of this epidemic,” he said, citing the need for better surveillance systems.

Meanwhile, UNICEF has ramped up its response by deploying over 1,600 community health workers and mobilizers. These teams are working to reach more than 160,000 households, providing critical support in areas with limited healthcare access. In addition, the agency has sent 24 decontamination units and eight transport flights carrying more than 100 tonnes of emergency supplies, funded in part by the European Union.

The emergency shipments include personal protective equipment, medical treatments, hygiene kits, and essential supplies to combat the virus. Dr. Noble emphasized the importance of these resources, noting that they will help frontline workers protect themselves and reduce the spread of the disease in affected communities. “We must ensure that children remain safe even as the outbreak continues to evolve,” he said.

Despite the virus’s high fatality rate, Dr. Noble urged that schools should stay open. “Children who can attend classes should continue doing so, provided proper safety measures are in place. Schools are not only places of learning but also hubs of community support,” he explained. This stance aligns with the understanding that Ebola spreads primarily through body fluids, unlike the airborne transmission of diseases such as COVID-19.

However, the absence of specific therapeutics or vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain adds to the challenges. While vaccines exist for other Ebola variants, such as the Zaire strain, they are not effective against this particular form of the virus. This gap in medical tools underscores the need for increased funding and resources to enhance monitoring and response efforts.

Local testing capacity has also seen significant improvements. In Beni alone, a mobile laboratory processed 500 diagnostic tests in a single day, providing crucial data to track the outbreak’s progression. Dr. le Polain highlighted this development as a key step toward gaining clarity on the virus’s spread within the region. “These tests will help us better understand the situation and target interventions more effectively,” he said.

With the outbreak expanding across multiple provinces, health officials are urging collaboration between agencies and local governments to strengthen containment strategies. The focus remains on mitigating the impact on children, who are not only at higher risk of infection but also more likely to suffer severe complications. As the virus continues to move through the population, the race to protect the most vulnerable is intensifying.