Ebola’s toll on children in eastern DRC and its first spill into Kenya

By the end of September, the epidemic had confirmed infection in at least 2,017 children across the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and at least 1,062 of those youngsters have died. Children represent just over one‑quarter of all reported cases but account for roughly one‑third of Ebola fatalities. The disease is especially deadly for the youngest, with seven in ten under‑five patients succumbing. Since the outbreak was declared in May, nearly 2,000 children have lost one or both parents or other caregivers, and more than 1,900 are now separated from family support. The highest concentrations are in Ituri province (1,581 children) and North Kivu (322 children).

UNICEF is operating a network of twelve nurseries in the hardest‑hit provinces of Ituri and North Kivu. These centres provide regular meals, safe holding and constant health monitoring for infants and toddlers whose parents are ill, in treatment, or missing. Staff watch closely for any early signs of Ebola so that children can be transferred quickly to paediatric care, while also protecting them from routine childhood illnesses that could compound risk. UNICEF has urged authorities to establish a nursery at every Ebola treatment facility, arguing that such proximity enables rapid detection, swift referral and helps keep families together during the crisis.

On 6 October Kenya reported its first Ebola infection and the associated death, marking the virus’s initial appearance outside the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Health officials said the case was probably imported from the eastern DRC, although detailed information remains limited. The World Health Organization is collaborating with Kenyan authorities to trace contacts, investigate the source and prevent further spread. This cross‑border transmission highlights the regional nature of the outbreak and underscores the need for coordinated surveillance, rapid response mechanisms and continued support for vulnerable children in both countries as the epidemic evolves.