The Democratic Republic of Congo announced Wednesday that suspected Ebola cases have emerged in a previously unaffected province, signaling further spread of an outbreak that has now claimed 600 lives.
According to a government situation report released Wednesday night, the outbreak — which was officially declared on May 15 — has infected 1,759 people across the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.
However, that figure does not yet account for two additional suspected cases identified in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province and one of the country’s largest cities.
Authorities say one of those cases is connected to the Niania health zone in Ituri province, where the very first cases of this outbreak were recorded. The second case, however, “does not appear to have a geographic link” beyond Kisangani, according to the situation report.
Both positive test results are currently undergoing confirmatory testing before they will be officially added to the case count. In the meantime, response teams have already moved into Kisangani to bolster surveillance efforts, contact tracing, and other measures aimed at containing further spread.
Reuters had reported the previous week that Congolese health officials were already tracking individuals who may have been exposed to Ebola in two provinces not previously touched by the outbreak: Tshopo and Haut-Uele.
The Wednesday situation report also recorded 51 new cases and 20 new deaths within a single 24-hour period.
The World Health Organization stated this week that the outbreak remains unstable and continues to grow, with movement of people across the region driving transmission.
