The Democratic Republic of Congo's health ministry confirmed 18 new Ebola cases Dec. 17, which brings the outbreak total to 539, according to an update from the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy in Minneapolis.
Here are three things to know:
1. Of the 539 Ebola infections, 491 are confirmed. Health officials also reported 315 deaths linked to the outbreak, 267 of which are directly linked to the virus. Officials are still investigating an additional 75 cases, and 186 people were cured.
2. Four of the five deaths recorded on Dec. 15 were community deaths, meaning they occurred outside of a healthcare setting and could pose a risk for community transmission, according to CIDRAP.
3. Health officials have vaccinated 48,048 Congolese people against Ebola since late August.