The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has expanded to a seventh province, raising fresh concerns over the potential spread of the deadly virus across the country and into neighbouring states.
Authorities in South-Ubangi province, which borders the Central African Republic and Congo-Brazzaville, officially declared an Ebola outbreak after laboratory analysis confirmed a suspected case.
The development came after an Ebola patient died in the province following extensive travel through several parts of the country, including areas that had not previously recorded cases during the current outbreak.
According to acting governor Jean-Rene Galekwa, the patient had developed symptoms in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province, before travelling through Rwanda, Uganda and Ituri province in northeastern DR Congo. He later travelled by boat along the Congo River before reaching South-Ubangi.
Health authorities have identified 38 people who came into contact with the deceased patient and placed them under quarantine as efforts intensify to trace possible chains of transmission.
Officials warned that the patient’s movements, particularly along the Congo River, could expose populations in North-Ubangi, Tshopo and Mongala provinces to the virus.
The latest development is particularly concerning because South-Ubangi shares borders with two neighbouring countries, increasing the potential for the disease to cross international boundaries if transmission is not contained.
Ebola spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids and can cause severe illness, including internal and external bleeding and organ failure.
The current outbreak, which was first detected in mid-May, has so far affected seven provinces and killed 3,310 people out of 6,843 confirmed cases, according to Congolese authorities.
The outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment, although several vaccines and treatments are being evaluated.
