In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, fears surrounding the ongoing Ebola outbreak are discouraging women and children from accessing essential healthcare services, leading to rising maternal mortality and significant declines in routine childhood immunizations, health workers and aid agencies report. The outbreak, declared in May 2026, is currently the country’s worst on record, having spread across seven provinces, infected over 8,000 people, and claimed more than 4,000 lives.

In Ituri province, data collected by the United Nations indicates that maternal deaths surged nearly 70% between May and July compared with the same period the previous year. Health professionals attribute this increase primarily to women avoiding prenatal care and hospital births out of fear of contracting Ebola in health facilities. Nurses at the Masiki healthcare center in Butembo city describe a sharp drop in deliveries at their maternity ward, with many women choosing to give birth at home, sometimes resulting in fatal complications. Some women reportedly delay seeking medical attention until it is too late, leading to preventable deaths linked to conditions such as malaria.

The United Nations Population Fund has also noted a more than 30% decline in hospital deliveries and a 50% decrease in obstetric complication treatments during the early months of the outbreak. At the same time, international aid reductions have contributed to shortages of life-saving medications, further straining the healthcare system.

Routine childhood vaccinations have similarly been disrupted, raising concern about long-term public health consequences. UNICEF reports that immunization rates in Ebola-affected areas have plummeted, with doses administered at health facilities in Ituri dropping by 23,000 between April and June. In Mongbwalu, first-dose measles vaccinations fell by nearly 70%. This decline is especially troubling given Congo’s history of recurrent measles outbreaks, with the Ministry of Health reporting over 126,000 cases in 2026 alone.

Misinformation and mistrust surrounding Ebola contribute to these challenges. Many parents fear that visiting health centers may lead to referrals to Ebola treatment units, where they believe patients face a high risk of death. Some initially seek care from traditional healers or attempt self-medication instead. Pediatrician Mupenzi Mumbere in Butembo described instances where parents hesitated to comply with medical referrals due to fears their children would be harmed by health workers. He noted that children often arrive at hospitals in critical condition, sometimes beyond medical help.

Despite these fears, some parents, like Masika Furaha, have chosen to vaccinate their children after witnessing others remain healthy post-immunization. Aid agencies emphasize that alongside the direct effects of Ebola, the outbreak’s indirect impacts on health, nutrition, and child protection are cause for growing concern. Experts warn that prolonged epidemics exacerbate these risks, underscoring the need for continued public health efforts to restore trust and access to essential healthcare services in affected communities.