KINSHASA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has spread to a sixth province, with confirmed cases rising to 4,665, the government said Friday.

Medical workers put on protective suits at an Ebola treatment center in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, July 6, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

The health zone of Buta in the northern province of Bas-Uele has been added to the list of affected areas, bringing the number of affected health zones nationwide to 54, according to the latest update released by the country's public health authorities.

The outbreak is now affecting six provinces -- Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tshopo -- with the northeastern province of Ituri remaining the main epicenter.

A total of 2,184 deaths have been recorded among confirmed cases, putting the overall case fatality rate at 46.8 percent. Meanwhile, 965 people have recovered since the start of the outbreak.

On May 15, the DRC declared the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus.