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Health officials in Africa on Friday confirmed a fresh outbreak of the Ebola virus in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), 246 suspected infections and 65 deaths have so far been recorded, including four fatalities among laboratory-confirmed cases.
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In a statement shared on social media, the continental health agency announced that the outbreak was detected in Ituri Province.
Africa CDC said it is closely tracking the development and has scheduled an emergency high-level meeting involving the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan and international partners to strengthen border surveillance, preparedness and response measures.
Ebola, first discovered in 1976 and believed to have originated from bats, is a severe viral illness transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. The disease can lead to internal bleeding and organ failure.
Over the last five decades, the contagious haemorrhagic fever has caused about 15,000 deaths across Africa.
The most severe Ebola outbreak in the DRC occurred between 2018 and 2020, leaving nearly 2,300 people dead.
AFP
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