The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has crossed 7,000 since mid-May, according to official data.

Health Ministry data showed that confirmed cases had reached 7,022, including 3,398 deaths for a case fatality rate of 48.4%.

The latest surge was announced as the virus spread to a new province, bringing the number of affected provinces to seven, which are Ituri, North Kivu, Haut-Uele, Tshopo, South Kivu, Bas-Uele and South-Ubangi.

The first confirmed case in South-Ubangi Province was reported late last week in the Bulu health zone.

Concerted efforts to contain outbreak

The case involved a 23-year-old man who died after travelling from South Kivu province on July 10, according to authorities.

A total of 62 health zones are now affected across the seven provinces.

Ituri remains the epicentre of the epidemic, accounting for 78.9% of the total caseload.

The Congolese government and health organisations last week launched a revised 180-day multi-sectoral plan worth $1.3 billion aimed at scaling up and coordinating the response to interrupt chains of virus transmission. It provides for a major expansion of epidemiological surveillance, contact tracing, community engagement, risk communication, logistical capacity as well as preparations in at-risk provinces.