The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement on Friday that attributed 246 suspected infections and 65 deaths to a new Ebola outbreak in the remote Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Africa CDC said it was convening an emergency meeting with health officials from the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, and other global partners to coordinate a response to the outbreak, including cross-border surveillance of the possible spread of the deadly disease.
The statement said most of the infections to date have been reported from two areas within the Ituri province, Mongwalu and Rwampara. Four of the reported fatalities have been laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases.
“Suspected cases have also been reported in Bunia, pending confirmation,” the statement added. Bunia is the capital city of Ituri province, a fast-growing commercial hub with a population of almost 700,000 people.
“Africa CDC is concerned about the risk
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