More than 300 children have died in the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Friday, August 7th, 2026. The outbreak, which began in mid-May, is caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of the virus.

Children represent nearly a quarter of confirmed cases but account for almost a third of all deaths, highlighting the severe impact on young populations. Women and children bear a disproportionate share of the outbreak in Ituri province, the most affected area, where nearly one million people have been displaced by conflict, with women and children making up around 80 percent of those displaced.

The outbreak is also severely disrupting essential healthcare services. UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq stated 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 decline in healthcare access is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, with about six women dying each week from childbirth-related complications and 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 following the declaration of the Bundibugyo outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 16th.

Health experts are urging trials of the only vaccine against Ebola to help halt the further spread of the Bundibugyo virus.

Sources