The Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has resulted in the deaths of more than 300 children since it emerged in mid-May 2026, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Friday, August 7th. Children represent nearly a quarter of confirmed cases but account for almost a third of all deaths.

The outbreak is concentrated in Ituri province, the most affected area, where nearly one million people have been displaced by conflict, with women and children comprising around 80 percent of those displaced, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The health crisis is severely disrupting essential healthcare services. UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq stated in New York that in the hardest-hit areas, use of health services has dropped by more than 40 percent in recent months due to fear of infection. This has led to many pregnant women avoiding care, contributing to roughly six maternal deaths per week from childbirth complications, with Ebola infection during pregnancy linked to nearly universal fetal loss.

In response, approximately 13,000 community workers have been deployed by the Congolese health ministry and partners, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO convened advisory groups after the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo Ebola virus species in the DRC was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 16, 2026.

Health experts have urged trials of the only vaccine against the disease to help halt further spread of the Bundibugyo species.

Sources