At least 10 students have died from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern Ituri province, as the country struggles to contain a rapidly expanding outbreak that has killed more than 4,400 people since May, authorities said on Thursday.
Education officials in the provincial capital, Bunia, reported 25 confirmed infections among students at several schools, with seven children receiving treatment at specialised Ebola facilities.
The deaths come just over a month after schools reopened for the 2026–2027 academic year, raising concerns about the safety of students and teachers in areas experiencing sustained transmission of the virus.
Provincial education director Yvon Muke called on school administrators to strengthen preventive measures and ensure compliance with health regulations to reduce the risk of further infections.
Muke said the government, working alongside international humanitarian partners, was distributing disinfectants, protective supplies and hygiene equipment to schools across affected communities.
He urged teachers, students and parents to use the supplies properly and follow public health guidance.
The outbreak, first declared in May, has continued to spread across eastern Congo, placing mounting pressure on healthcare facilities and emergency response operations.
According to figures published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Congo had recorded 9,144 confirmed Ebola infections and 4,410 deaths in its latest reported figures, with Ituri accounting for the majority of cases.
The province has registered 6,734 infections and 3,177 deaths, making it the epicentre of the epidemic.
The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, remains a major public health emergency as infections continue across multiple provinces.
The epidemic has affected at least 65 health zones, with significant transmission also reported in North Kivu and Haut-Uele.
On Thursday, health officials told Reuters that two infections had also been confirmed in North Ubangi, potentially bringing the number of affected Congolese provinces to eight. The additional cases had not yet been formally announced by national authorities.
The expanding outbreak has also prompted concerns about cross-border transmission, with infections linked to Congo reported in neighbouring Uganda and Kenya.
