Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province in Congo, government confirms

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to an eighth province, North Ubangi, Congo's public health institute said on Sunday, confirming earlier Reuters reporting.

The emergence of cases in the province, which borders Central African Republic, poses a new challenge for health authorities struggling to contain the outbreak.

The National Institute for Biomedical Research confirmed two cases - including one death - in North Ubangi.

Reuters reported on Thursday that two cases were confirmed in the province, citing two health officials. At the time, there was no official statement by Congolese authorities.

North Ubangi becomes the eighth province affected by the outbreak, alongside North Kivu, Ituri, Haut-Uele, Tshopo, Sud-Kivu, Bas-Uele and South Ubangi.

The outbreak, the worst Ebola epidemic in Congo's history, has already spread beyond the country's borders, with cases recorded in Uganda and seven infections confirmed in Kenya this month.

Congo's latest situation report showed 67 new confirmed cases and 26 new deaths in the 24 hours to Oct.16, bringing the cumulative total to 9,415 cases and 4,536 deaths since the outbreak began.

The outbreak remains concentrated in eastern Congo, with Ituri province reporting 44 of the 67 new cases.

-Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Christina Fincher/Reuters