Africa's top public health agency has confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement on Friday that 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases had been recorded so far in the remote Ituri province.
The health body said it was convening an urgent meeting with Congo, Uganda, South Sudan and global partners to reinforce cross-border surveillance, preparedness and response efforts.
It said the cases had mainly been reported in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, with four deaths among laboratory-confirmed cases.
"Africa CDC is concerned about the risk of further spread due to the urban context of Bunia and Rwampara, intense population movement, mining-related mobility in Mongwalu," the agency added. Health authorities began an Ebola vaccination program in Congo last year [FILE: August 2018]Image: Olivia Acland/REUTERS
