The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 200, health authorities have said, as infections continue to rise and concerns grow over the pace of transmission.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Thursday, confirmed cases have reached 875 since the outbreak was declared on May 15, including 202 deaths, resulting in a mortality rate of 23 percent.
The outbreak is concentrated in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, with Ituri accounting for nearly 95 percent of all reported infections.
The virus has also crossed the border into Uganda, where 19 cases and two deaths have been confirmed.
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Officials expand response
Africa CDC said testing capacity and digital surveillance systems have been strengthened in an effort to improve case detection and curb the spread of the disease.
