Children across the Democratic Republic of the Congo are returning to school as the country battles what authorities say is its largest Ebola outbreak on record.
Government figures recorded 6,041 confirmed cases and 2,911 deaths as of August 31, surpassing the previous major outbreak between 2018 and 2020.
Six of the country’s 26 provinces have been affected, with northeastern Ituri province remaining the epicentre. As of August 26, Ituri had recorded 4,802 confirmed cases.
The outbreak is being caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a species of ebolavirus different from the Zaire strain responsible for most previous Ebola outbreaks in the country.
There is currently no approved vaccine or treatment specifically for Bundibugyo virus disease. The Ervebo vaccine, which is approved for Zaire ebolavirus, is being administered to frontline health workers, although its effectiveness against Bundibugyo has not been established. The World Health Organization is supporting a clinical trial to assess whether it offers protection against the current strain.
Rather than impose a nationwide school closure, the government has introduced different measures based on local transmission risk.
Areas have been classified as green, orange or red. Schools in green zones are expected to operate normally, while those in affected orange zones will remain open with additional precautions.
In the highest-risk red zones, pupils will study from home using printed learning materials and radio programmes. Authorities say workbooks and curriculum-based learning sheets will be distributed, while local and community radio stations will broadcast educational programmes.
Education Minister Raissa Malu said 40 of the country’s 138 educational subdivisions in Ebola-affected provinces had been impacted by the outbreak, with 18 classified as high risk.
The reopening has nevertheless prompted concern among some parents and teachers in Ituri, where unions have called for adequate health and hygiene measures to be put in place before pupils and staff return to classrooms.
