Congo Confirms Ebola Death in New Province, Raising Spread Concerns

Democratic Republic of Congo health authorities confirmed an Ebola death in Bas-Uele province, a region previously unaffected by the ongoing outbreak, raising concerns about wider transmission. The victim was a motorcycle taxi driver who traveled from Haut-Uele province, where cases were already confirmed, to Bas-Uele. He died in Buta after developing hemorrhagic symptoms and tested positive posthumously, according to Jean-Jacques Muyembe, head of Congo's National Institute for Biomedical Research. Haut-Uele has recorded 113 confirmed cases among five affected provinces. The driver visited multiple health facilities before death, and fellow taxi drivers attempted to retrieve his body, prompting police intervention and fears of further infections. Congo's 17th outbreak has infected 4,566 people, including 2,128 deaths, making it the second-largest on record.