Key facts
- The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to a sixth province, Bas-Uele.
- A death was recorded in Bas-Uele province, involving a patient who traveled from Haut-Uele.
- The World Health Organization warned the current outbreak could surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic, the deadliest on record.
- The current outbreak has resulted in over 2,100 deaths out of more than 4,500 cases.
- Health workers at a treatment center in Ituri province went on strike over unpaid wages.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to a sixth province, Bas-Uele, officials confirmed. This development comes as the World Health Organization warned the current outbreak is on track to surpass the deadliest in history, the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic which killed over 11,000 people. A death was recorded in Bas-Uele province, involving a motorcycle taxi driver who had traveled from Haut-Uele province, where cases were already confirmed. The patient died in Buta, the capital of Bas-Uele, and tested positive for the virus post-mortem. The current outbreak has recorded more than 2,100 deaths out of over 4,500 cases, making it the second-largest on record. The outbreak is complicated by strikes from unpaid health workers, threats from rebel groups, and misinformation. Health authorities noted that 60% to 70% of new cases are occurring outside of monitored contacts, indicating the disease is spreading rapidly.