Congo Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province bordering Central African Republic

The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has extended to the North Ubangi province, bordering the Central African Republic, with two cases reported in the area, Reuters reported Thursday, citing two health officials.

This is the eighth province to report the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which was first identified in mid-May and is the second largest Ebola outbreak ever, with more than 9,000 cases and 4,000 deaths.

The two North Ubangi cases have yet to be announced by Congolese authorities, the officials told Reuters.

A health official in the province said several suspected deaths had been reported over the past few days in a mining area in the Wapinda health zone, near the border with Bas-Uele province. Samples were taken for laboratory testing in the province and in the capital, Kinshasa.

Ituri province continues to be the hotspot for the outbreak, with infections also reported in North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut-Uele, Bas-Uele and South Ubangi.

The epidemic also crossed borders. Uganda reported cases after having declared itself free of the disease in August, while Kenya has confirmed a second case on Wednesday of a family member of its first patient, Reuters reported.

There is no vaccine or standard treatment for the Bundibugyo strain.