The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to North Ubangi, the eighth affected province. Two health officials confirmed two cases in the region, which borders the Central African Republic.
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to a new province bordering Central African Republic, two health officials said on Thursday. North Ubangi becomes the eighth province to be affected by the outbreak of the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, posing a fresh challenge for authorities struggling to contain it.
Two cases have been confirmed in North Ubangi, the officials said. These cases have not been officially announced by Congolese authorities. The outbreak was announced in mid-May and has become the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, with more than 9,000 cases and more than 4,000 deaths confirmed.
A health official in North Ubangi told Reuters on Thursday there had been a series of suspect deaths recently in a mining area in Wapinda health zone, close to the border with Bas-Uele. This prompted samples to be analysed at a provincial laboratory and in Kinshasa.
Ituri province remains the epicentre of the outbreak, though cases have increased recently in North Kivu province. Cases have also been confirmed in South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut-Uele, Bas-Uele and South Ubangi provinces.
In addition to spreading within Congo, the outbreak has resulted in cases in neighboring countries. Uganda was declared Ebola-free in August. Kenya announced its first Ebola infection earlier this month and announced a second case on Wednesday. According to Reuters, the second case in Kenya is a close family member of the first one.
The expansion of the outbreak to North Ubangi marks a significant geographic progression for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola. With the virus now present in eight provinces within the Democratic Republic of Congo and linked cases appearing in East Africa, the situation remains critical. The confirmation of cases in a province bordering the Central African Republic raises concerns about further cross-border transmission, while the high number of confirmed deaths underscores the severity of the current epidemic.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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