At least 25 percent of confirmed Ebola deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been children, according to aid organization Save the Children. The group reported that four of the 17 deaths confirmed through laboratory testing were among children. However, the actual figures are believed to be substantially higher, given that more than 240 fatalities in the ongoing outbreak are suspected to be caused by Ebola.

The continuing outbreak in the DRC has severely affected the Ituri region, where limited laboratory capacity has hindered efforts to confirm infections. This shortfall complicates both response efforts and accurate case reporting.

Babou Rukengeza, head of Save the Children’s Ebola emergency response in the country, described this outbreak as the fastest spreading that they have encountered in their years of responding to such crises. The rapid transmission underscores the challenges faced by health workers and humanitarian groups working to contain the virus amid resource constraints and difficult terrain.

Efforts to identify and treat Ebola patients, especially vulnerable groups like children, remain a priority amid the ongoing public health emergency. The situation highlights the need for strengthened laboratory infrastructure and increased support to frontline responders to curb the outbreak’s growth and reduce mortality rates.