The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has spread to North Ubangi Province, near the border with the Central African Republic, with two cases reportedly recorded, according to health officials.
The development, which Congolese authorities have yet to officially announce, brings the number of provinces affected by the outbreak to eight.
The officials said the cases were recorded in North Ubangi following reports of suspected deaths in the Wapinda health area, near the border with Bas-Uele Province, which prompted health authorities to conduct tests.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, was declared on May 15. There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the strain.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said a clinical trial for a vaccine is expected to begin in the DRC by the end of October.
According to figures released on Wednesday, the outbreak has resulted in more than 9,000 cases and 4,441 deaths.
The virus has also been reported in neighbouring countries, including Uganda, which declared itself Ebola-free in August.
Kenya, meanwhile, announced its second case of the virus on Wednesday. The patient is a relative of the first confirmed case, who died on October 5.
