Schools have reopened in Ebola-affected areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including high-risk zones, despite the country recording more than 3,000 deaths from the outbreak.
The reopening comes as health authorities continue efforts to contain the outbreak, which had recorded 6,186 confirmed cases and 3,007 deaths as of August 31, according to the latest government figures released on Wednesday.
Authorities had initially planned to keep schools in high-risk areas closed and introduce remote learning through worksheets and broadcast programmes. However, the decision was reversed following concerns from provincial officials that prolonged school closures could worsen educational inequalities.
Schools have now resumed classes in affected provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, with health measures introduced to reduce the risk of transmission.
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Students and teachers are being encouraged to observe hygiene measures, including regular handwashing, while schools have been provided with hygiene supplies. Parents, however, remain concerned about the safety of children as the outbreak continues.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus and has spread across six provinces and 60 health zones in the DRC.
There is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease, although clinical trials are underway to assess potential treatments, while vaccine candidates are also being evaluated. Health authorities have also continued surveillance, contact tracing and other containment measures.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called for the international response to be intensified, urging the international community to increase and accelerate funding for the Congolese government-led Ebola response plan, which is seeking $1.3 billion.
“Until every chain is found and broken, the epidemic will continue and will continue to pose a threat to DRC, its neighbours and the region as a whole,” Tedros told reporters in Geneva.
The current outbreak is the deadliest Ebola epidemic ever recorded in the DRC, surpassing the 2018–2020 outbreak. It is also the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak globally, after the 2014–2016 West African epidemic.
