WHO: Ebola in Congo spreading at record speed

The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo is gaining momentum with "exceptional speed," the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Saturday, calling for a significant strengthening of response measures, reports Le Figaro.

"This epidemic is the largest ever recorded in the DRC," stated a WHO press release, confirming data published a day earlier by local authorities.

By the end of July, a total of 3,605 confirmed cases of infection had been registered in the country, of which 1,587 resulted in death, corresponding to a mortality rate of 44%.

The outbreaks affect regions with unstable state presence and severely limited health infrastructure. According to the WHO, the epidemic "is intensifying, with sustained transmission of the virus and a constant increase in the number of reported cases and deaths."

The organization's data shows that in the last reporting week alone, a record 567 new cases and 296 deaths were recorded, which "indicates an exceptional speed of infection spread."

The number of infected medical workers also remains alarming – 151 confirmed cases of the disease among them, including 44 deaths.