An outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has killed 65 people, according to African health officials.

A total of 246 suspected cases have been reported in Ituri province, which borders Uganda and South Sudan. The area includes mining towns with high population mobility, complicating disease control efforts.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) expressed concern over the risk of further spread. Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with body fluids of infected individuals or deceased bodies.

Africa CDC reported on Friday that the DRC's national laboratory detected the Ebola virus in 13 of 20 samples tested. Early testing suggests a different strain than the Zaire strain for which vaccines exist; full genetic sequencing results are expected within 24 hours.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, stated: "Africa CDC stands in solidarity with the government and people of the DRC. Given high population movement between affected areas and neighboring countries, rapid regional coordination is essential."

Dr. Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health at the University of Southampton, noted that regular outbreaks in the DRC result from a "perfect storm" of factors including animal contact, population movement, tropical climate, and rainforest coverage.

The 2014-16 West Africa outbreak saw an estimated 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths.

Source: www.theguardian.com