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UNICEF reported that at least 2,076 children had contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as of September 29, and 1,162 had died. Halimatou Amadou, the agency's communications director in the country, presented the figures at the United Nations office's weekly press briefing in Geneva. Children accounted for slightly more than a quarter of confirmed infections and about a third of deaths, she said.

More than 1,900 children have lost parents or caregivers, or become separated from them, since the outbreak was declared in May, Amadou said. She highlighted the particularly high death rate among children under five, with seven out of every 10 confirmed cases proving fatal. The outbreak continues in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, which already host approximately 4.4 million displaced people.

UNICEF needs $113.4 million for its Ebola response in the country but has secured only slightly more than a third of that amount, Amadou said. Authorities declared the outbreak on May 15 after 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths were reported in Ituri. According to health officials, there is no approved treatment or vaccine for the Bundibugyo Ebola variant responsible for the outbreak.

Key Takeaways

• UNICEF recorded at least 2,076 confirmed child infections and 1,162 child deaths.
• More than 1,900 children have lost or become separated from parents or caregivers.
• UNICEF has secured slightly more than a third of its $113.4 million response funding requirement.