An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has spread to a sixth province, raising concerns over further transmission across the country and neighbouring states.
More than 2,100 people have died from approximately 4,500 recorded cases since the outbreak began in mid-May, making it one of the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreaks on record.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has confirmed a case in the northeastern province of Bas-Uele. The patient, a man who had travelled from an Ebola-affected province to Buta, the provincial capital, later died.
The case means six provinces have now recorded infections.
The outbreak is centred in the northeastern province of Ituri, where continuing insecurity and displacement have complicated efforts by health authorities to contain the virus.
Health officials have also faced difficulties linked to community mistrust and reluctance among some residents to follow public-health guidance.
A significant number of deaths have reportedly occurred within communities rather than health facilities, raising concerns that suspected cases are not always being reported quickly enough for health workers to isolate patients and trace their contacts.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for greater engagement with affected communities to strengthen trust, improve early detection and reduce transmission.
Health authorities have warned that the scale of the outbreak could eventually surpass the 2014–2016 West African Ebola epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 people.
The current outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Scientists in the UK and Canada are conducting clinical trials of potential vaccines, with early findings showing promising signs in efforts to reduce deaths from the disease.
