The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surpassed 1,000 confirmed infections, with at least 254 confirmed deaths.
Health authorities say the outbreak is spreading rapidly across eastern Congo and remains difficult to contain because of insecurity, population displacement, and limited healthcare resources.
A major concern is that the virus has now reached several displacement camps, where overcrowding and poor sanitation create ideal conditions for transmission.
The outbreak has spread through three eastern provinces and has already affected camps housing thousands of internally displaced people.
Reuters reported that an 18-month-old girl in the Hungbe displacement camp died after developing a fever and being taken to multiple health centers.
She tested positive for Ebola shortly before her death, raising fears that the disease is becoming entrenched in camp populations.
Health officials have identified more than 100 people who had contact with the child, including relatives and healthcare workers, and are monitoring them for signs of infection.
However, shortages of isolation facilities, medical staff, and tracing capacity are hampering efforts to break chains of transmission.
Aid agencies and public health experts warn that if the outbreak continues to spread through crowded camps, it could become one of the most severe Ebola crises in recent years.
Nearly 20% of reported infections are among children, and cases have also been detected in neighboring Uganda, increasing concerns about regional spread
