DAKAR, Aug 14 (Reuters) – The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to a sixth province, Bas-Uele, located in the northeast of the country, the communications ministry said on Friday, officially confirming a case discovered earlier.
Health authorities have identified a person who has died from Ebola in the provincial capital Buta, an official from the National Institute for Biomedical Research told Reuters on Thursday.
Bas-Uele wasn’t previously affected by the virus. The new case raised fears that people who have been in contact with the patient may have also been infected.
Delayed detection, conflict and strained health services have helped the virus spread more rapidly than in previous outbreaks.
The latest report, published on the ministry’s X account, said that the number of confirmed Ebola cases in Congo has increased to 4,665, including 2,184 deaths.
(Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Sharon Singleton)
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