DR Congo Ebola outbreak spreads to 7th province

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has expanded to a seventh province, according to the governor of South-Ubangi province. This is the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country's history, with the current epidemic killing 3,310 people out of 6,843 confirmed cases. The outbreak began in northeastern Ituri province and has spread to remote eastern and northern regions, where armed groups are active and state presence is weak.

The latest case originated in Tshopo province, where the patient had traveled from Rwanda, then Uganda, and Ituri province before arriving in South-Ubangi province by boat. Thirty-eight people who may have been exposed to the patient are in quarantine. The World Health Organization has called for 5,000 additional health workers to assist with the outbreak, noting that there are currently only 1,400 beds across 59 treatment centers, but an estimated 1,600 are needed.

Ebola spreads through contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe bleeding and organ failure. No approved vaccine or treatment exists for the Bundibugyo strain responsible for this outbreak.