Health officials believe the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo began several weeks ago, with the death toll now rising to 118. The outbreak has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). As many as 118 deaths and around 300 suspected cases were reported in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces.

In neighbouring Uganda, health authorities have also reported one death and one suspected case. Officials warn that the numbers are likely to increase as surveillance expands. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said more than 390 suspected cases have been recorded. Now Congo plans to open three Ebola treatment centres in eastern Ituri province, while the WHO is sending a team of experts to support containment efforts. The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has also confirmed cases and fatalities in Uganda linked to the outbreak.