Ebola cases top 3,500 in DR Congo as Africa CDC warns of uncontrolled outbreak

KINSHASA, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has risen to 3,532, with 1,556 confirmed deaths, according to the latest figures released Friday by the country's public health authorities.

The epidemic has now spread across five eastern provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo. Currently, 807 patients remain in isolation or under hospital care, while 626 individuals have recovered.

Speaking at a weekly press briefing Thursday, Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director-General Jean Kaseya described the outbreak as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded.

Kaseya said the epidemic could not yet be considered under control, noting that more than 80 percent of new cases in Ituri, the epicenter, lack identified links to known contacts. More than 60 percent of deaths were occurring within communities rather than at Ebola treatment centers.

The DRC government declared the outbreak on May 15. ■