Pregnant women shun hospitals as Ebola fuels maternal deaths in DR Congo

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is triggering a second public health crisis, with growing numbers of pregnant women avoiding hospitals over fears of infection, leading to a sharp rise in maternal deaths.

The Ebola outbreak, declared on May 15, has now become the fastest-growing on record, claiming more than 1,700 lives and infecting thousands more, further complicating efforts to restore essential health services.

Resources have been diverted to Ebola response efforts, while some health workers have died, gone unpaid or fled because of insecurity, leaving fewer staff to provide routine maternal healthcare.