A health staff member of the prevention and control team works in Ituri Province, eastern DR Congo, on Aug 5. DIEUDONNE DIROLE/AP
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's record Ebola outbreak has triggered a wider health crisis, with thousands of children missing routine vaccinations and pregnant women avoiding health facilities as fear of infection and disruptions to medical services keep families away from care.
The disruption is increasing the risk of deaths from preventable illnesses such as measles, malaria and diarrhea, particularly among children, according to the United Nations Children's Fund.
Health data from Ituri Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, show that between April and June, the use of essential health services fell by 42 percent in the outbreak hot spots of Bunia, Mongbwalu, Nizi and Rwampara, while province-wide utilization declined by nearly 13 percent.
According to UNICEF, "routine childhood immunization has been among the hardest-hit services". In the outbreak hot spots, first-dose measles vaccinations declined sharply, including a 69 percent drop in Mongbwalu.
