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Ebola Claims Two Infants at Congo Orphanage
10 Jun
Summary
- Two infants died from Ebola at a church-run orphanage in eastern Congo.
- Five other babies tested negative for Ebola and were discharged.
- Children and babies can easily transmit the disease through bodily fluids.
A devastating Ebola outbreak has tragically claimed the lives of two infants at a church-run orphanage in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Baby Buswaza, brought to the orphanage after her mother's death in late May, was among the first victims, dying from the virus after developing a fever.
Following this initial tragedy, six other babies at the Bunia orphanage were identified as suspected Ebola cases. They were swiftly transferred to the Evangelical Medical Centre (CME) for care and isolation. While five of these infants later tested negative and were discharged, another infant, an orphan triplet girl known as "Cherie," succumbed to confirmed Ebola on Wednesday.
Medics confirmed that children and babies can easily become vectors for the disease through highly infectious bodily fluids. Three of the deceased babies' carers, including a nun, have also tested positive for Ebola. This outbreak has impacted an area already grappling with a humanitarian crisis and high malnutrition levels among children under five.
