At least 10 students have lost their lives to Ebola in Ituri Province, located in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, local officials reported on Thursday.
These fatalities occur slightly over a month following the reopening of schools for the new academic term, as the viral outbreak continues to expand.
Figures provided by educational authorities in Bunia, the capital of the province, show that the deceased are among 25 confirmed Ebola infections detected across multiple schools in the area. While 10 of the affected students have succumbed to the virus, seven others are presently receiving medical care.
A provincial education official called on school administrators to guarantee the proper employment of protective gear and strict compliance with public health protocols to help curb further transmission of the disease.
In a situation report issued on Wednesday, the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa highlighted that the epidemic in the Congo is steadily worsening, expanding both in terms of total cases and casualties as well as geographic reach.
This recent outbreak has now impacted more than 65 health zones across eight separate provinces.
