Ebola outbreak hits Congo’s most vulnerable children

These Congolese children returned to the world after five days in quarantine. This is the first year of their lives, and they are at the center of a deadly Ebola outbreak. The babies are all orphans who were taken to this hospital after showing symptoms of the virus. They just tested negative and have been transferred to their temporary home. However, at least two other babies have died in the same orphanage. What happened to them was a worst-case scenario for health officials trying to prevent Ebola from spreading to young children. Alarms were raised following the arrival of a newborn named Patience at St Nicholas Children’s Home here in late May. The child quickly developed a fever. We toured the orphanage where nearly 70 children and their caregivers live. The pediatrician traced the case of baby Patience’s mother and learned she had Ebola when she died. After a few days my patience died. She was born 9 days ago. This was one of the last photos taken while she was alive. It is unclear whether the family knew she could be infected. The relative who brought her to St. Nicholas refused to speak to us when we reached him by phone. By the time anyone at the orphanage understood the risk, some of the staff were already patient and caring. Soon more children began showing symptoms of the virus. During a visit to the Ebola treatment unit, the 10-month-old baby seemed to be getting better. Baby Elise was being cared for by Sister Cecile Nube, one of three orphanage staff members who also tested positive. Even when Sister Nuve was sick, she stayed by Elise’s side, feeding her, giving her medicine, and watching over her. Elise passed away 24 hours after we met. It’s a reminder of how quickly illness can change, especially in babies. Now Saint Nicholas is isolated. Contact tracers visit the orphanage every day to check children and caregivers for fever. “The temperature is a little higher for some of them today, but they’re OK for now.” The concern is that one infection here can quickly lead to many infections. “It could be a recipe for disaster. It’s a very typical situation where Ebola can destroy a community very quickly. They’re playing together, they’re spending all day together, so it’s spreading from one person to the next. And you don’t see for a single moment that the whole community is infected.” The orphanage is currently under surveillance. Even as fears grow that the virus may continue to spread with each new symptom, it remains a refuge for children in need of shelter and care.