Ebola outbreak in Congo poses deadly risks for pregnant women

Key Points:

• The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, declared on May 15, has led many pregnant women like Esther Lutula to avoid prenatal care due to fears of isolation and misinformation, causing a dangerous rise in maternal mortality rates in Ituri province.
• Maternal deaths in Ituri doubled from an average of 3.1 weekly before the outbreak to 5.8 weekly between late May and mid-July, with deaths outside health centers also increasing significantly, according to UNFPA data.
• The outbreak has strained Congo’s already fragile healthcare system, redirecting resources to Ebola response, causing a decline in prenatal care visits, and prompting some health workers to abandon their posts amid attacks and unpaid wages.
• Pregnant women face heightened risks during the outbreak, both from Ebola infection—which can cause miscarriage and severe complications—and from reduced access to essential maternal health services, potentially leading to deaths unrelated directly to Ebola.
• Misinformation and fear about Ebola, including rumors about quarantine and treatment, have exacerbated distrust in health facilities, causing many pregnant women to delay or avoid seeking medical care despite the high risks involved.