KINSHASA, July 9 – The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported a suspected Ebola case in a new province, raising concerns that the country’s latest outbreak is spreading beyond the areas initially affected.
According to the government’s latest situation report released on Wednesday, the outbreak, which was declared on May 15, has now infected 1,759 people across the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. The death toll has risen to 600.
Health authorities said response teams have stepped up surveillance, contact tracing and other containment measures in Kisangani following the suspected case.
The development comes after reports that Congolese health officials were tracing people who may have been exposed to the virus in Tshopo and Haut-Uele, two provinces that had not previously recorded cases during the current outbreak.
The latest situation report recorded 51 new infections and 20 additional deaths in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday.
Earlier this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the outbreak had yet to stabilise and continued to expand, warning that the movement of people between affected areas was contributing to the spread of the virus.
Authorities are continuing surveillance and response efforts as they work to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission.
