Ebola Strikes Youngest Victim at Congolese Orphanage

A newborn in eastern Congo’s Ituri province just didn’t make it past her first two weeks of life. The baby, later named Buswaza, was brought to a church-run orphanage after her mother died from Ebola in May. Nurses noticed she had a fever right away. Within days, she was gone—another tragic victim of the outbreak. But her story didn’t end there. Six more babies at the orphanage showed signs of infection shortly after. Tests confirmed five of them were safe, but one—an under-one-year-old triplet nicknamed Cherie—still fights for her life in a hospital isolation tent. The little girl’s condition has worsened, doctors say, and her caregivers remain by her side. Even one of the nuns who helped care for Buswaza now has Ebola, though her symptoms are mild.This isn’t just about one orphanage. Ituri has been ground zero for the current Ebola crisis, with nearly 600 infections and over 115 deaths. Children make up about 17% of the cases, but experts warn that number could grow. The disease spreads easily through bodily fluids, and babies are especially vulnerable. In rare cases, Ebola can pass from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. The crisis doesn’t just threaten health. Eastern Congo has long suffered from malnutrition—over half of kids under five are chronically underfed in some areas. Combine that with ongoing armed conflict, and children’s survival odds shrink even further. Aid workers say those with weak immune systems from poor nutrition could decline faster if infected. Local groups like the Red Cross now stock child-sized body bags to ensure safe burials for young victims. Meanwhile, health teams visit the orphanage daily, checking on kids and staff. The place isn’t just a shelter—it’s a last safe place for children caught in a brutal cycle of war and disease.