The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 5,656 confirmed Ebola cases, including 2,715 deaths, as the outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus continues to spread across six provinces, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
The latest figures, covering data through Aug. 24, represent an increase of 72 confirmed cases and 35 deaths from the previous report, the ECDC said Wednesday.
The new cases were reported in Ituri, North Kivu, Haut-Uele and Bas-Uele provinces.
Ituri remains the hardest-hit province, with 4,716 cases and 2,119 deaths reported across 28 of its 36 health zones. North Kivu has recorded 735 cases and 501 deaths.
Overall, 58 of the 151 health zones across the six affected provinces have reported cases, according to the ECDC.
A total of 792 patients are currently hospitalized in isolation, while 1,245 people infected with the Bundibugyo virus have recovered. About 80.9% of identified contacts are under follow-up in the affected provinces.
The outbreak has also affected neighboring Uganda, which recorded 20 confirmed cases and two deaths. Uganda declared the outbreak over on July 28 after reporting no new cases since June 21 and discharging its last Ebola patient on July 16.
The outbreak has also resulted in imported cases outside Africa. The ECDC said a U.S. citizen was medically evacuated to Germany for treatment in May, while France reported another imported case June 24. Both cases were linked to areas affected by the outbreak in Congo.
Also, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported July 10 that a U.S. citizen working for a humanitarian organization in Congo had tested positive for Bundibugyo virus. The patient was medically evacuated to Germany on July 13.
The ECDC said the likelihood of Ebola infection among people living in the European Union and European Economic Area remains very low, while noting that significant gaps remain in surveillance and epidemiological data.

