Kinshasa, June 30 (SANA)The Democratic Republic of theCongohas recorded 1,307 confirmedEbolacases, including 377deaths, authorities said late on Monday.

Reuters, citing local officials, reported that the cases have been identified in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.

Health authorities believe the virus had been circulating for months before the government officially announced the first confirmed cases on May 15, exposing many healthcare workers to infection before theoutbreakwas identified.

Officials have also reported critical shortages of essentialprotective equipment, including gloves and face masks, hampering efforts to contain the outbreak.