WorldUN NewsWomen and girls pay high price in DR Congo Ebola outbreak
Women and girls make up more than half of confirmed Ebola cases in the DR Congo outbreak, largely because they bear the burden of caring for the sick at home.
The deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has taken a disproportionate toll on women and girls, many of whom are on the frontlines caring for patients as well as their own families despite the high risk of infection.
A UN Women representative visiting Bunia, the epicentre of the DRC Ebola outbreak, found women and girls are bearing a disproportionate share of infections and deaths.
Official data shows more than 54 percent of confirmed Ebola patients are women, and girls make up 51 percent of cases in the 10 to 17 age group.
Community deaths, including reports of four women dying at home in a single day with no official record, suggest the true toll may be higher than statistics show.
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