The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported five cases of Ebola virus disease amid the latest outbreak in the northwestern part of the country.

DRC office of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said five cases of Ebola virus disease, including four confirmed ones, had been reported since the beginning of the 14th outbreak, declared in late April in the northwestern province of Equateur.

WHO disclosed that all five patients had died, and 234 contacts were identified and under surveillance, while 1,013 people, including frontline workers, were vaccinated.

Patient Zero, a 31-year-old man, started experiencing symptoms on April 5 and sought treatment at a local health facility after more than a week of care at home.

On April 21, the patient was admitted to an Ebola treatment centre for intensive care but died later that day, according to local health authorities.

DRC has been experiencing its 14th Ebola outbreak since 1976.

According to the WHO office, previous outbreaks in Equateur Province were in 2020 and 2018, with 130 and 54 recorded cases.

In December 2021, DRC declared the end of its 13th Ebola outbreak, in which eight cases were confirmed and three probable, including six deaths in the northeastern North Kivu province. 

(Xinhua/NAN)