The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak has grown to 782 confirmed cases, after 72 new infections were recorded within 24 hours, according to government data released on Sunday.
The increase marks one of the largest single-day jumps recorded during the ongoing outbreak, Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak.
The latest situation report said 181 deaths have been confirmed among the reported cases.
Outbreak remains concentrated in eastern provinces
The outbreak remains limited to three provinces in eastern Congo: Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.
However, health authorities reported that the virus has reached two additional health zones for the first time.
New confirmed cases were recorded in the Nia-Nia health zone in Ituri province and the Mabalako health zone in North Kivu.
The outbreak has now affected 20 of Ituri’s 36 health zones and 10 of North Kivu’s 34 health zones, while one health zone in South Kivu has also reported confirmed cases.
