Children under the age of 5 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRCongo) have the highest Ebola mortality rate and represent the highest number of deaths outside treatment centers, the WHO reported today.
© Lusa
22/09/2026
by
Lusa
“ ANDalthough adults represent the majority of cases, children under 5 years of age have the highest mortality rate, higher than 60%, compared to about 40% among adults”, described the World Health Organization, in a statement, on Monday.
“They also represent the majority of deaths outside Ebola treatment centers, either at home or in health centers where they are not identified as sick,” added the health agency.
According to the leader of the WHO Ebola case management team, Daniel Youkee, small children have a lower physiological reserve and immune systems not fully developed and therefore require constant attention and special care.
Thus, according to the expert, there is a need for a better and greater sharing of specific technical knowledge, equipment and medicines that are sometimes not readily available.
“ Standardized supply kits need to incorporate pediatric size equipment and medication with pediatric dosage and presentation. The staff needs to be trained in pediatric guidelines”, he explained.
The current epidemic has already killed 3,699 people and 7,672 cases have been confirmed, with 23 deaths and 58 cases occurring in the last 24 hours, the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) indicated Monday in its latest epidemiological bulletin.
The institute also pointed out that during the last day 15 discharges of patients diagnosed with Ebola were confirmed, which increases to 1,879 people who have overcome the disease, with 886 hospitalized or in isolation at this time.
The INSP highlighted that, therefore, the mortality rate so far is 48.2%.
The current episode of Ebola in DRCongo is already the most deadly in the history of the country, surpassing that recorded between 2018 and 2020, according to WHO data.