DR Congo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to an eighth province in the country’s north, authorities said on Sunday.

The Health Ministry has recorded two cases, including one death, in Nord-Ubangi province, bordering Central African Republic. The ministry said both patients were men in their 20s living in the Wapinda health zone, which borders Bas-Uele province, where Ebola cases have been reported previously.

Authorities have recorded at least 9,400 cases, including more than 4,500 deaths, in the outbreak declared in mid-May, making it the deadliest in DR Congo’s history.

The virus has spilled over into other countries including neighbouring Uganda, which has since declared itself free of the disease, and Kenya, which recorded a seventh case on Saturday. Central African Republic has not recorded any confirmed cases.