KINSHASA, 01 October 2026 – About seven children on average have died every day of the Ebola virus since the outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 15 May, with 961 children now confirmed to have died from the disease, said Save the Children.
According to a Save the Children analysis of data from the Ministry of Health, about two-thirds of child deaths from Ebola - or 623 fatalities - are among children under five.
The 61% case fatality rate (CFR) among children aged 0-4 years is also significantly higher than the overall 48% CFR for the current outbreak, highlighting the need to protect the youngest children as the outbreak continues to spread across eastern DRC.
Since 15 May, at least 2,071 children aged under 18 have contracted Ebola, with 961 of these children – almost one in two of those infected – dying from the disease.
The outbreak has grown by nearly a quarter in just over three weeks, increasing from 6,604 confirmed adult and child cases and 3,175 deaths on 5 September to 8,116 cases and 3,924 deaths by 27 September. Additionally, 81.5% of Ebola deaths over the previous three weeks occurred in communities rather than treatment centres, highlighting the need for increased investment in community engagement, trust building and a community-led response.
Beyond infection, Ebola is leaving many children bereaved, traumatised and in need of long-term support. Last month, Save the Children said that at least 180 children have lost both parents or primary caregivers to the deadly outbreak, equivalent to nearly two children every day, since the deadly virus was declared.
Dr Babou Rukengeza, Save the Children’s Ebola Response Lead in the DRC, said:
"Behind these numbers are children who should be in school, playing with friends and growing up safely with their families, not fighting for their lives against a deadly disease.
"The fact that one in four Ebola cases and deaths is a child means the outbreak is hitting children hardest and more needs to be done to protect them. Every day the outbreak continues, more children risk becoming infected, dying, losing loved ones or suffering the long-term consequences of this crisis.
“We urgently need increased support to protect children, strengthen health services, help communities prevent the spread of the disease and ensure children who have lost parents or caregivers receive the support they need."
Save the Children UK is calling on the UK Government to work with partners around the world to prevent and contain future outbreaks of deadly diseases like Ebola by strengthening healthcare systems. The government can do this by increasing investment for primary healthcare and healthcare worker training, supporting the development of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines, and ensuring that children are at the centre of all response efforts.
The child rights organisation warned that progress in controlling the outbreak could be undermined if communities lack access to healthcare, information and essential services needed to prevent transmission and protect children.
Save the Children is supporting infection prevention, community engagement, case detection and referral, and the continuity of essential services for children and families. The aid agency is also providing psychosocial support and child protection services, including support for children who have lost caregivers, while working to ensure children can continue learning and access healthcare, nutrition and protection services safely throughout the crisis.
In the DRC since 1994, Save the Children partners with 13 local organisations, as well as international agencies and government authorities, to deliver life-saving support in health, nutrition, education, child protection, food security, water, sanitation, and hygiene for children and their families.
ENDS.
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