Suspected Ebola cases reported in eastern DR Congo’s South Kivu province

Representation Pic/istock

Suspected cases of Ebola have been reported in a rebel-held part of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu province, hundreds of kilometres from the outbreak's epicentre.

If confirmed, these would signal expansion of an outbreak that experts believe circulated for around two months in Ituri province - several hundred kilometres to the north - before being detected last week.

The outbreak of the virus' Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no vaccine, has been declared a public health emergency of international concern.

The outbreak caused 139 deaths, and there were 600 suspected cases in eastern DRC's Ituri and North Kivu provinces as of Wednesday.

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