DRC health minister warns ‘very high’ Ebola lethality rate as toll hits 80

A new Ebola disease outbreak has been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) northeastern province of Ituri, with at least 80 deaths confirmed and nearly 250 suspected cases recorded. The highly contagious haemorrhagic fever has spread to three health zones in Ituri, including the provincial capital Bunia, and has also been reported in neighbouring Uganda. Health officials are racing to intensify screening and contact tracing to contain the disease, citing concerns that it could spread to other countries.