Ebola outbreak in DR Congo spreads to eighth province

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to an eighth province, with new cases confirmed in the northern province of Nord-Ubangi, according to the country's latest health ministry report.

Two men in their 20s were reported infected in the Wapinda health zone. One of them has died. The report did not specify the source of infection.

As of Friday, the country had recorded 9,415 confirmed Ebola cases since the outbreak began in May, including 4,536 deaths. The case fatality rate stands at 48.2 percent.

The eastern province of Ituri remains the epicenter of the outbreak, accounting for more than 73 percent of all confirmed cases nationwide. Neighboring North Kivu Province has recorded the next-highest number of cases.

Overall, the outbreak has now affected 66 health zones across eight provinces of the DRC.

The current outbreak has become the largest and deadliest ever recorded in the country. Globally, it is the second-largest Ebola outbreak after the 2014–2016 epidemic in West Africa.

According to CCTV+, health authorities in the DRC continue to monitor the spread of the disease as new areas report infections.