The Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has expanded to 63 health zones across seven of the country’s 26 provinces.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in a statement on Friday, said that the expansion followed the identification of infections in two additional health zones.

It also reported that 7,890 confirmed cases had so far been reported, including 3,799 deaths, with a crude case fatality ratio of 48.1 per cent.

“The newly affected areas are Bulu health zone in Sud Ubangi province and Dungu health zone in Haut-Uélé province, which borders South Sudan.

“The geographic expansion has increased the risk of cross-border transmission, particularly with the detection of cases in areas close to international borders,” it said.

According to WHO, the number of new cases reported daily remains high nationally, although transmission levels vary considerably between provinces and individual health zones.

It said that the continued high case fatality ratio, coupled with persistent community deaths, underscores the severity of the outbreak and challenges in detecting cases early.

WHO said delays in diagnosis and access to adequate treatment could contribute to preventable deaths while allowing transmission to continue within households, communities and healthcare facilities.

“The outbreak currently affects Bas-Uélé, Haut-Uélé, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Sud Ubangi and Tshopo provinces, according to the latest situation update as of 23 September,” it said.

(NAN)