DRC: Ebola fears grow as children return to school
Summary
Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are returning to school amid the country's largest Ebola outbreak, raising concerns among parents and teachers, especially in the hardest-hit province of Ituri. The government is using different safety measures depending on the Ebola risk level in each area, including home-based learning with printed materials and radio lessons in the highest-risk zones.Key Facts
- The DRC’s current Ebola outbreak has 6,041 confirmed cases and 2,911 deaths as of August 31, making it the worst outbreak recorded there.
- Six provinces out of 26 in the DRC are affected, with Ituri province being the most impacted, having 4,802 confirmed cases as of August 26.
- The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a type of Ebola virus different from previous outbreaks in the country.
- There is no approved vaccine or treatment specifically for the Bundibugyo virus yet. The usual Ebola vaccine, Ervebo, is used for health workers but its effectiveness against Bundibugyo is unknown.
- Schools in high-risk areas are not holding classes in person; instead, students study at home with workbooks and radio lessons.
- The government classifies areas into green (no Ebola), orange (affected but manageable), and red (highest risk) zones, with learning methods adjusted accordingly.
- Some parents and teachers are worried about children's safety if schools reopen because children may not follow preventive measures well.
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