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.