TheCable

Almost 200 people have died in the latest Ebola outbreak to hit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since August.

According to the nation’s health ministry, there are more than 300 confirmed or probable cases.

“At this point, 319 cases and 198 deaths have been registered,” Oly Ilunga, the country’s health minister, said.

“In view of these figures, my thoughts and my prayers go to the hundreds of families grieving, to the hundreds of orphans and the families which have been wiped out.”

BBC reports that another 25,000 people have been vaccinated against the virus.

The latest outbreak is the 10th experienced in the country in the last 40 years.

The Ebola virus is contagious and easily spread through small amounts of bodily fluid.

Infection often proves fatal and is preceded by flu-like symptoms, vomiting, diarrhoea, a rash and internal and external bleeding.

Nigeria experienced an Ebola outbreak in 2014, leading to the deaths of eight persons — most notably Stella Adedavoh, a medical doctor.