A total of 7022 Ebola cases and 3398 deaths have been reported in Congo. Photo: AP PHOTOThe Ebola outbreak in Congo, the world's fastest-growing outbreak of the disease on record, has now spread to seven provinces in the African country and is showing no signs of slowing down. Subscribe now for unlimited access.Save $100 + Bonus ToteAll articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperCrosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll other in your areaAccording to the governor of the northwestern province of Sud-Ubangi, Jean-Rene Galekwa Vundawe, Congo's national research institute tested a sample and found traces of the Bundibugyo virus, the rare kind of Ebola that caused the current outbreak.The statement, which was issued on Thursday and reported by local media outlets on Friday, said the sample was from the Bulu health district in Sud-Ubangi. It did not disclose other information about the source of the infection. The development makes Sud-Ubangi the seventh province affected by the Ebola outbreak. (AP PHOTO)Local lawmaker and former health minister Jean-Jacques Mbungani said on X on Thursday a positive case was recorded in Gwaka, a town in Sud-Ubangi province. He said the patient was a 23-year-old man and has died. Mbungani said in just three weeks the man had departed from South Kivu province — where confirmed Ebola cases have been reported — and then travelled to Rwanda and Uganda. He then travelled to Congo's Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak. He then travelled from the northeast of the country to the northwest through the provinces of Tshopo, Mongala and Sud-Ubangi, according to Mbungani.Doctors and local authorities in Sud-Ubangi were alerted to a patient that had a fever and was vomiting blood, Mbungani told The Associated Press on Friday, adding the man had died on Tuesday. Samples were then taken after the patient had died and were sent to the national research institute.The development makes Sud-Ubangi the seventh province affected by the outbreak — and the first in western Congo — a worrisome spread outward from what was previously concentrated in the country's east. A case was detected in Kinshasa in May in a person who had travelled from eastern Congo, but the Congolese capital, more than 1600km away from the epicentre, was not classified as an affected province.As of Thursday, 7022 cases and 3398 deaths have been reported, according to the latest government figures released Friday.The outbreak could spread from Congo to the Central African Republic and South Sudan. (AP PHOTO)The World Health Organisation has said the outbreak remains out of control and is on track to surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, the deadliest on record, which killed more than 11,000 people, primarily in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.WHO said in August there is a risk the outbreak could spread from Congo to the Central African Republic and South Sudan, which border the affected provinces.Neighbouring Uganda, which had reported 20 cases since May, declared itself free of Ebola in July.Australian Associated PressMore from World NewsBe the first to know when news breaks.Your exclusive preview of David Pope's latest cartoon.Don't miss updates on news about the Public Service.Join our weekly poll for Canberra Times readers.Going out or staying in? Find out what's on.Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation.Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening.Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am!Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more.Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe.Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday.Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarGuide, ACM's exclusive motoring partner.Get the latest property and development news here.Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!Stay in the know on news that matters to you with twice weekly newsletters from The Senior.As it happensSubscriber OnlyGet the very best journalism from The Canberra Times by signing up to our special reports.The latest news, results & expert analysis.Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over.We've selected the best reading for your weekend.