A new case of the Ebola virus has been detected in the east of the DR Congo, the country's health ministry and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have confirmed.

According to Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, the new Ebola case was detected in Butembo, one of the epicentres of the previous outbreak in eastern DR  Congo and it's early detection has been attributed to experience and capacity of local health teams.

A woman from the town of Biena near the town of Butembo has died from the disease, it is reported.

According to the WHO, epidemiologists are on ground supporting the Congolese ministry of health's investigation and "more than 70 contacts have already been tracked."

"Samples have been sent to the National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa, DRC for genome sequencing to determine link to the previous outbreak. It is not unusual for sporadic cases to occur following a major outbreak," the WHO said.

Last August, as the world continued to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, reports indicated that the number of cases of Ebola in western DR Congo was rising.

Early last year, it was the unanimous view of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee that Ebola virus disease outbreak in the country still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).