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KINSHASA, Congo (AP) \u2014 Africa\u2019s top public health body on Friday confirmed a new Ebola outbreak<\/a><\/span> in Congo\u2019s remote Ituri province, with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths recorded so far.<\/p>\n The deaths and suspected cases have been recorded mainly in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.<\/p>\n The Ebola virus<\/a><\/span> is highly contagious and can be contracted through bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen. The disease it causes is rare, but severe and often fatal.<\/p>\n \u201cFour deaths have been reported among laboratory-confirmed cases. Suspected cases have also been reported in Bunia, pending confirmation,\u201d the agency said, referring to the capital of Ituri province, near the border with Uganda.<\/p>\n It said preliminary laboratory results had detected the Ebola virus in 13 of 20 samples. The results suggest a non-Ebola Zaire strain of the virus with sequencing ongoing to further characterize the strain, the agency said. The Ebola Zaire strain has been prominent in Congo\u2019s past outbreaks.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization said last year that Congo has a stockpile of treatments and some 2,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine. However, the vaccine is effective against the Ebola Zaire strain, it said. <\/p>\n The Africa CDC said results confirming the strain in the new outbreak are expected within 24 hours.<\/p>\n Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization director-general, told reporters Friday that the WHO last week sent a team to help Congo investigate the outbreak and collect samples. While initial results did not confirm Ebola, a new analysis on Thursday did, he said. <\/p>\n Congo has \u201ca strong track record in Ebola response and control,\u201d Tedros said, adding that the WHO is releasing $500,000 to aid Congo\u2019s response. <\/p>\n The latest outbreak comes around five months after Congo\u2019s last Ebola outbreak was declared over<\/a><\/span> after 43 deaths.<\/p>\n Ituri is in a remote eastern part of Congo characterized by poor road networks, more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the nation\u2019s capital of Kinshasa.<\/p>\n Africa CDC said it is concerned about the risk of further spread due to intense population movement, mining-related mobility in Mongwalu, insecurity in affected areas, gaps in contact listing and control challenges.<\/p>\n The proximity of affected areas to Uganda and South Sudan also raises concerns, it said.<\/p>\n The agency said it is convening an urgent coordination meeting Friday with health authorities from Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, together with key partners including U.N. agencies and other countries. <\/p>\n \u201cThe meeting will focus on immediate response priorities, cross-border coordination, surveillance, laboratory support, infection prevention and control, risk communication, safe and dignified burials, and resource mobilization,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n This is the 17th outbreak in Congo since the disease first emerged in the country in 1976. An Ebola outbreak from 2018 to 2020 in eastern Congo<\/a><\/span> killed more than 1,000 people. The WHO said that outbreak was characterized by the Ebola Zaire strain.<\/p>\n An earlier outbreak that swept across West Africa from 2014 to 2016 also killed more than 11,000 people.<\/p>\n The new outbreak will create more worry for the Central African country, which has been battling various armed groups in the east, including the M23 rebel group, which launched a rapid assault in January<\/a><\/span> last year and has since occupied key cities.<\/p>\n Ituri in particular is also battling violence from the Allied Democratic Force, an Islamic State-linked militant group which has killed dozens there and in other parts of the east.<\/p>\n Congo, Africa\u2019s second-largest country by land area, often faces logistical challenges in responding to disease outbreaks. During last year\u2019s outbreak, which lasted three months, the World Health Organization initially faced significant challenges<\/a><\/span> in delivering vaccines due to limited access and scarce funds.<\/p>\n Dr. Gabriel Nsakala, a professor of public health who has been involved in past Ebola outbreak responses in Congo, said the country and health workers on the ground have a high level of experience, in addition to existing infrastructure such as laboratories.<\/p>\n \u201cIn terms of training, people already know what they can do. Now, the expertise and equipment need to be delivered quickly,\u201d Nsakala added.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n Associated Press writers Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria; Saleh Mwanamilongo in Bonn, Germany; Mark Banchereau in Dakar, Senegal; and Mike Stobbe in New York City contributed.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n For more on Africa and development: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/africa-pulse<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP\u2019s standards<\/a><\/span> for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nAffected areas are close to Uganda, South Sudan borders<\/h2>\n
Congo has seen more than a dozen Ebola outbreaks<\/h2>\n