The World Health Organisation says the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is expanding rapidly across multiple provinces.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading into new areas, raising concerns about the scale of the health emergency.
Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, health authorities have recorded 676 confirmed Ebola cases and 136 deaths. An additional 119 suspected cases are under investigation, while 32 patients have recovered.
According to the WHO, the outbreak is centred in Ituri Province but has also spread to North Kivu and South Kivu. Health officials say new cases are being detected in previously unaffected health zones almost every day.
The current outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. The WHO also warned that isolation facilities remain far below the capacity needed to manage the growing number of infections.
Health experts say population movement and local community transmission are accelerating the spread of the virus. Several high-risk areas also remain difficult to monitor.
The WHO says the full scale of the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is still unknown as surveillance efforts continue.
