Two Babies Die Of Ebola In Congo Orphanage As Outbreak Hits Children

Two babies die of Ebola in a Congo orphanage as the outbreak spreads, raising urgent concerns over children’s vulnerability.

Health officials and aid workers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are warning about the heightened danger Ebola poses to children after two babies from a church-run orphanage in Bunia died during an ongoing outbreak.

Following the death of her mother in late May, a newborn baby known as Buswaza was taken into a Christian orphanage in Ituri province. Caregivers said the infant developed a high fever shortly after arrival and died within days. She was later confirmed to have been infected with Ebola.

In the same facility, which houses about 69 children in Bunia, the epicenter of the outbreak, medical teams later identified six additional infants as suspected Ebola cases after Buswaza’s death.

The children were transferred to a hospital isolation unit for treatment and monitoring. Five of them eventually tested negative and were discharged back to the care of the orphanage, where staff in protective gear welcomed them upon release.

However, another infant girl, one of a set of triplets and nicknamed “Cherie,” later tested positive for Ebola and died shortly afterward, according to the head of the treatment center. Officials confirmed her death marked another tragic loss among the orphanage’s youngest residents.

Three caregivers at the facility, including a nun, have also tested positive for the virus, according to health responders involved in the outbreak response. The congregation running the orphanage, originally established by Belgian missionaries, described the situation as emotionally devastating.

Health experts say Ebola spreads easily through bodily fluids such as vomit, feces, and saliva, making young children especially vulnerable due to close contact care. Transmission from mother to child can also occur during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding, as the virus has been detected in amniotic fluid, the placenta, and breast milk.

According to UNICEF, children account for a significant portion of current Ebola cases in the region, with estimates suggesting nearly one in five infections involves a child. Experts warn that malnutrition, weak healthcare access and conflict-related displacement in eastern Congo may worsen survival chances.

The World Health Organization has also noted that while data on this specific strain remains limited, young children may face more severe outcomes when infected.

Local aid organizations say many children in the region are already living under extreme vulnerability due to conflict and poor nutrition, making the outbreak even more dangerous.

Health workers continue to monitor the orphanage daily as containment efforts intensify, while humanitarian groups emphasize the need for safe care and dignified burials for victims, including child sized protective burial supplies.

Officials say the outbreak remains under close observation as authorities work to prevent further spread in an already fragile region.