Maternal deaths have doubled in the epicenter of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s current Ebola outbreak as pregnant women avoid healthcare facilities due to fear and misinformation, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other health officials.
The current crisis is unfolding in a nation that already has among the world’s highest maternal mortality rates; at least 19,000 women died from pregnancy complications in Congo in 2023, according to U.N. data.
Largest Ebola Outbreak in DRC History
The current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), is the largest ever reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, surpassing the 2018-2020 outbreak which saw 3,317 confirmed cases. As of 30 July 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a total of 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths, representing a crude case fatality ratio of 44%.
Initially confined to the Mongbwalu health zone in Ituri Province, the virus has expanded over two months to 49 health zones across five provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, and Tshopo. The pace of transmission has been described as exceptional, with 567 cases and 296 deaths recorded during epidemiological week 30, the highest weekly totals to date.
Fear and Avoidance of Clinical Care
Health professionals warn of a “shadow crisis” as expectant mothers shun hospitals. At the Bénédicte Clinic in Bunia, medical director Dr. Sonny Mwembo reported that monthly prenatal consultations dropped from approximately 60 patients to around 10.
This avoidance is driven by fear of contamination and misconceptions regarding hospital protocols. Esther Lutula, a 26-year-old mother of one in Bunia, stated she interrupted her medical follow-up because patients with a temperature of 38 degrees or more are retained for observation. Another resident, Elodie Yabiri, expressed fear that anyone who feels sick and visits a hospital is immediately labeled with Ebola and placed in quarantine.
Marie Belizaire, the WHO incident manager in Bunia, noted that the community is also self medicating,
leading to a high number of community deaths. Dr. Mungwete added that the danger includes a silent collapse of access to essential health care.
Systemic Collapse and Healthcare Strain
The outbreak has placed an unsustainable burden on a healthcare system that the World Bank notes has only one doctor for every 5,000 people. According to aid groups, health facilities in the five affected provinces are redirecting staff and supplies to the Ebola response, which further reduces access to essential maternal care.
Marie Belizaire described the system as having no shock absorber
to withstand an outbreak of this scale.
Regional Context and Risks
The outbreak is occurring in a region marked by poverty, banking difficulties, supply shortages, and near-constant conflict since the 1990s. While the Ministry of Health of Uganda declared the end of its BVD outbreak on 28 July after 42 days without a new locally transmitted case, the WHO warns that Uganda remains at risk of re-introduction due to ongoing transmission in the DRC.
Experts point to previous outbreaks to highlight the long-term risks of disrupted care.
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