BUNIA, Democratic Republic of Congo — Mourners gathered in the eastern Congolese city of Bunia on Friday to bury a six-month-old girl who died from Ebola, marking the third child from a church-run orphanage to die during the country's latest outbreak, as health authorities continued efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
The infant, identified by local officials and caregivers as Vanisa Anifa, died earlier this week after contracting Ebola. Her funeral was held under strict health precautions, with masked and gloved burial workers lowering the coffin into the ground while relatives, clergy and members of the community observed from a distance.
A Catholic priest led prayers during the ceremony. “It’s a feeling of sadness because we have lost one of our own, a daughter of the church,” Father Innocent Ndogo said during the burial service. “As we have always said, the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.”
The death follows two earlier Ebola-related deaths involving children at the same orphanage in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, which remains at the center of the outbreak. Earlier this month, health workers reported that several infants from the facility were transferred to hospital after suspected exposure to the virus. Some later tested negative, while two children died from confirmed infections. Caregivers, including at least one nun, were also reported to have contracted the disease.
Health authorities say the outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. The response has been complicated by community mistrust, resistance to some public health measures and security challenges in eastern Congo. Officials and aid agencies have reported incidents in which residents opposed safe burial procedures and resisted contact-tracing efforts.
On Friday, Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said the country had recorded 933 confirmed Ebola cases, including 245 deaths. He said dozens of patients had recovered and been discharged from treatment centers. Most confirmed cases have been reported in Ituri province, according to health authorities.
The outbreak has also raised concerns in neighboring Uganda, where health officials have reported cases linked to cross-border transmission. International health agencies and local authorities continue surveillance, contact tracing and treatment efforts in affected areas.
As of Saturday, health officials said response teams remained active across eastern Congo, monitoring contacts and expanding public awareness campaigns. Authorities said the outbreak remains ongoing and urged communities to cooperate with medical teams as containment efforts continue.
