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By Hollie Silverman
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A 6-month-old girl has died from Ebola at an orphanage in eastern Congo, marking the third child fatality at the facility. The tragedy underscores the rapid expansion of a major health crisis as officials struggle to contain a fast-growing outbreak of the disease.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), regional cases have surged by 38 percent over the past week, spreading across 32 health zones in eastern Congo.
The outbreak is heavily concentrated in the Ituri province, which accounts for more than 90 percent of reported infections. Containment efforts by international and local authorities continue to face complications, driven by community resistance, limited medical resources, and ongoing tensions surrounding strict safe-burial protocols.
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What to Know About the Orphanage Outbreak
The latest victim, an orphaned infant named Vanisa Anifa, succumbed to the virus earlier this week. She was buried Friday at the Bigo Cemetery in Bunia under strict safety measures, with only health workers in specialized protective gear permitted to handle the body.
Anifa’s death signals a worrying cluster of infections among infants and young children within close-contact caregiving environments.
Timeline of the Orphanage Cluster:
- The Index Case: In the early days of the local crisis, a newborn brought to the orphanage following her mother's death developed a fever and died within days. The case was later confirmed as Ebola, Reuters reported.
- Secondary Transmission: Shortly thereafter, a second infant—an orphaned triplet under 1-year-old—also succumbed to the virus.
- Staff Infections: The virus quickly spread beyond the children. Multiple caregivers at the facility, including a nun, have since tested positive.
Public health officials say infants and young children are exceptionally vulnerable to Ebola. The virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids (such as saliva, vomit, and feces), making the hands-on, constant care required in orphanages highly conducive to transmission.
“She was a baby. She had her whole life ahead of her. Unfortunately, she was taken by the disease, a disease that, as you know, is transmitted from one person to another,” Alex Lock, a communications officer at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said.
Understanding the Bundibugyo Ebola Strain
Ebola is a severe, often fatal viral disease that causes hemorrhagic fever. The current outbreak impacting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda is driven by the Bundibugyo strain, a less common variant first identified in 2007.
Unlike the more frequent Zaire strain—which can be managed with existing, approved vaccines and therapeutics—the Bundibugyo strain currently has no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment. Medical response is limited primarily to aggressive supportive care.
Primary Symptoms of Ebola:
- Sudden onset of fever and profound fatigue
- Severe muscle pain and weakness
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Impaired kidney and liver function
- In advanced stages, internal and external bleeding
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Death Toll in Latest Outbreak
Here are the latest available figures (mid- to late-June 2026) broken down by country, based on data from the CDC and Africa CDC:
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Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC):
- Confirmed cases: 896
- Confirmed deaths: 232
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Uganda:
- Confirmed cases: 19
- Confirmed deaths: 2
- Probable deaths: 1
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Total (DRC + Uganda):
- Confirmed cases: 915
- Confirmed deaths: 234
These numbers reflect one of the most up-to-date snapshots of the outbreak, which is still evolving rapidly, meaning totals are expected to change as new cases are identified.
This story contains reporting from the Associated Press.
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