Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed a case of Ebola in the western province of Equateur, over 1,000 km (620 miles) away from the ongoing outbreak in the country’s east, Health Minister Eteni Longondo told journalists on Monday.

The diagnosis presents a fresh challenge to health authorities. In April, Congo was days from declaring the end of the second-largest Ebola epidemic on record when a new chain of infection was confirmed in the east.

Recall that in 2020, the number of cases recorded per week declined dramatically, with just a handful of cases recorded throughout January and February. However, on 10 April – just three days before the outbreak was expected to be declared over – a new case was recorded in Beni. Six further cases had been recorded in the same area.

Although the last Ebola patient was discharged from the Beni ETC on 14 May, the outbreak is not yet officially over and there is a continued need for vigilance, especially in the midst of the current coronavirus pandemic.

REUTERS