By LOUIS OKAMBA, Associated Press Writer

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (AP) - Medical experts were investigating a possible outbreak of the deadly Ebola ( news - web sites) virus in the northern jungle of Republic of Congo amid reports that five people died, officials said Tuesday.

The victims, living in the northern village of Oloba, all died during the last week, said Stanislas Ebata-Mongo, head of the government's campaign against Ebola.

He said a government medical team was dispatched Monday to Cuvette-Ouest province to take blood samples from the victims to confirm if they died of Ebola.

World Health Organization ( news - web sites) officials already inside the country also left for the same area on Monday to investigate the report.

The last Ebola outbreak in the region went from October to February, killing 43 people in Republic of Congo and 53 others in neighboring Gabon, according to WHO.

WHO says that outbreak was sparked after contact with an infected gorilla. Apes can also contract the virus and die of it.

Monkey and gorilla meat are frequently consumed by civilians living in Central Africa. Authorities had urged villagers in the area to avoid bush meat during the last outbreak.

Ebola is one of the world's deadliest viral diseases, causing death through massive blood loss in up to 90 percent of those infected.

It spreads through bodily fluids — though not the air — and attacks internal organs, causing bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Within two weeks, the victim usually dies from massive blood loss.

WHO says more than 1,000 people have died of the disease since the virus was first identified in 1976 in western Sudan and in a nearby region of Congo.