The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Friday confirmed an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province.

The agency said in a statement that it was convening an urgent meeting with DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, and global partners to strengthen cross-border surveillance, preparedness, and response efforts.

It said about 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths had been reported, mainly in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, including four deaths among laboratory-confirmed cases.

The agency said initial findings suggested the presence of a non-Zaire strain of the virus, with ongoing sequencing to further characterize it.

“Africa CDC is concerned about the risk of further spread due to the urban settings of Bunia and Rwampara, intense population movement, and mining-related mobility in Mongwalu,” the agency said in a statement.

Ebola virus disease is a severe and often fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated materials, or individuals who have died from the disease.