A group of health experts including the health minister in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been sent to the northern province of Equateur to investigate a series of deaths that have suffered from Ebola-like symptoms, according to reports on Wednesday.

The Ebola outbreak has mainly infected West African countries in Liberia, Guinea, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. If confirmed, the Congo case could mean the Ebola virus has traveled 2000 miles to reach Congo and would serve as a new hot spot for the virus.

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The number of people who are said to have died in the province of Equateur has not yet been specified, but a local resident said at least 10 have died, including health workers, with "flu-like symptoms and bleeding from the face."

This wouldn't be the first time Congo has seen the effects of Ebola, as the worst of 5 strains of the Ebola virus was ironically discovered there in 1976 killing over 280 people. Even recently in 2012, 36 people reportedly died due to the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The same deadliest strain of the virus found in 1976 is what's currently devastating West Africa, and has already killed more than 1,200 people.

Ebola still has no cure available and is known to kill up to 90 percent of people that are infected. It's also very contagious through contact with bodily fluids. The symptoms start out with headaches and flu-like symptoms, as the virus quickly targets functionality of organs causing internal bleeding.

According to experts, Ebola has found its way in the human population due to consuming animal meat in the African wilderness. They say forest bats are the primary host for Ebola. Bats are actually popular in West African cuisine.

If the deaths were indeed caused by Ebola, the province of Equateur should be a priority to control the virus considering their populations of 7.5 million people in a dense 48 square mile area. 

TagsEbola Virus, outbreak, Democratic Republic of Congo, province of Equateur