After her mother died in late May, baby Buswaza was brought to a church-run orphanage in eastern DR Congo where the nuns quickly discovered the newborn was running a fever. Within days, she died from what they later found out was Ebola.

Carers and medics said that after her death six other babies were identified as suspected Ebola cases at the orphanage of 69 children in Bunia – a city in Ituri province at the epicentre of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

They were taken to hospital, where five of them later tested negative and were discharged from an isolation tent at the Evangelical Medical Centre (CME) on Tuesday by medics in full protective suits to smiling nuns.

"We thank the hospital staff, we are very grateful," said Sister Clarisse, carrying a baby in a pink hooded gown.

Nun also contracts Ebola

One baby – an orphan triplet girl nicknamed "Cherie" who is less than a year old – remains in hospital with confirmed Ebola, medics and carers told Reuters.

Dr. Freddy Kibwana, head of the CME, told Reuters on Wednesday that her health had deteriorated in the past few hours. "The intensive care team and paediatricians are evaluating her," he said. He added that one of the nuns from the orphanage is also at the facility with Ebola and appeared to have few symptoms of the disease.

As well as the hospitalised baby, three of the deceased newborn's carers including the nun have tested positive for Ebola, aid workers and medics said.

“We are nuns but we are also humans and it has been very emotional," one sister told Reuters, asking for anonymity for fear of being associated with Ebola and stigmatised.

One of youngest Ebola victims

Buswaza, who lived less than two weeks, is one of the youngest victims of the epidemic that has so far infected more than 600 people and killed at least 120 people across DR Congo.

As well as fluids like blood and saliva, Ebola has been detected in amniotic fluid, the World Health Organization said, so it is possible her mother transmitted the virus to her in the womb or during childbirth.

If the mother caught the virus after giving birth, she may also have transmitted it to her child through breastmilk where the virus has also been detected.

So far, children account for nearly a fifth or around 17% of the confirmed Ebola cases in the current outbreak, according to the UN children's charity (UNICEF) based on preliminary data. It is unknown how many have died.

While young children represent a smaller portion than other age groups, the World Health Organization said they may be at increased risk of severe outcomes and death.