Bunia : The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned of the growing risk of the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo spreading to neighbouring countries, with the Central African Republic considered at highest risk, followed closely by South Sudan, as the outbreak expands towards border areas.
Marie Roseline Belizaire, WHO expert, said the Biena and Manguredjipa health zones in North Kivu province have case fatality rates higher than the overall rate, due in part to delayed response efforts.
She added that the outbreak recorded 5,794 confirmed cases, including 2,786 deaths, and is spreading faster than efforts to track and contain it.
The latest government figures showed that the outbreak spread to two new health zones in eastern Congo, bringing the total number of affected zones to 60.
The organisation called for strengthened surveillance and rapid response measures amid concerns that the outbreak could spread further and reach neighbouring areas and countries.
