Since the discovery of the Ebola virus disease in 1976 in South Sudan (then Sudan) and Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire), there have been recurrent outbreaks.

Just days ago, news reports have it that the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 17 new Ebola cases in the western province of Equateur.

U.N. health officials report there is no link between the Ebola outbreak declared June 1 in Mbandaka, Equateur Province, and the epidemic, which broke out nearly two years ago in DR Congo’s North Kivu and Ituri provinces.

The United Nations has released $40 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to help tackle the new outbreak of Ebola and other health crises in the DRC.

“We have a lot of experience in tackling these outbreaks,” stated Eteni Longondo, the DRC’s health minister.