DR Congo rules out school closures despite Ebola deaths

Schools to remain open

Health Minister Roger Kamba on Saturday ruled out closing schools in eastern DR Congo despite the Ebola outbreak claiming the lives of at least five students since mid-May, insisting instead on enhanced preventive measures in classrooms across the affected regions. The decision covers educational facilities in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces where the virus has continued to spread.

Kamba told reporters in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province: "We are not going to close schools. We are going to put in place preventive measures so as not to punish children twice," he said, adding that the priority remains safeguarding students without disrupting their education. He attributed the student deaths to self-medication and delays in seeking professional medical care.

Outbreak toll rises

The Bundibugyo strain circulating in the three eastern provinces carries a fatality rate between 30% and 50% among confirmed cases, according to the WHO. Kamba urged parents to refer suspected cases immediately to health facilities rather than attempting home treatment, noting that quick medical intervention remains critical for survival.

The WHO has recorded at least 134 confirmed cases across DR Congo and Uganda since the outbreak began, with nine infections detected in Uganda and 18 deaths total. Congolese authorities indicate over 1,000 suspected cases have been registered cumulatively, with new reports continuing to emerge from the affected eastern regions.