Following four deaths in western Congo, 1,000km from the ongoing outbreak, authorities have reported a new Ebola epidemic.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) declared a new Ebola epidemic Monday in the western city of Mbandaka, more than 1,000km (620 miles) away from an ongoing outbreak in the east.
"A new #Ebola outbreak detected in western #DRC, near Mbandaka, Équateur province.
"This outbreak is a reminder that #COVID19 is not the only health threat people face," he added.
DRC's 11th outbreak
The DRC has been struggling to put an end to a nearly two-year-old Ebola outbreak near its eastern borders with Rwanda and Uganda which has left more than 2,200 people dead.