Congo Ebola outbreak outpacing response

JOHANNESBURG/ DAKAR:

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is continuing to spread faster than response efforts can contain it, while frontline health workers face serious security threats as they battle the disease in some of the country's most volatile regions.

The outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has infected more than 1,000 people in Congo and a further 20 in neighbouring Uganda, making it the largest first-month outbreak recorded for any Ebola epidemic.

Health experts believe the virus had been circulating undetected for several months before authorities officially declared the outbreak on May 15. REUTERS