Congo’s Ebola outbreak has spread to another health zone in the northeastern province of Ituri, authorities said on Wednesday, raising concern over continued transmission more than three weeks after the epidemic was first declared.
The health ministry said Tchomia, located about 50 kilometres south of Ituri’s provincial capital Bunia on the shores of Lake Albert, had become the latest affected health zone.
The development brings the total number of affected health zones to 26 across the country, including 18 in Ituri, which accounts for more than 94 percent of confirmed cases.
In Congo’s health system, a health zone refers to a defined area served by a network of clinics and a referral hospital.
According to the government’s latest situation report, 37 new confirmed cases were recorded in the previous 24 hours, including 12 deaths. All of the new cases were reported in Ituri.
The outbreak has now recorded 635 confirmed cases and 127 deaths across three eastern provinces.
Authorities declared the epidemic on May 15. It is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
The virus has since spread across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, regions already affected by insecurity, displacement and cross-border movement.
Officials said eight more patients had been declared recovered, bringing total recoveries to 30. Treatment activities have also begun at Ebola centres in Bunia and Rwampara.