The Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed 91 deaths linked to the latest Ebola outbreak, as health authorities warned the number of infections continues to rise.
Government figures released on Sunday showed confirmed Ebola cases had reached 515 after 27 new infections were recorded within 24 hours.
The outbreak, declared on May 15 in Ituri province in northeastern Congo, has raised growing international concern amid fears the virus could spread further if containment efforts fail.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that the current situation could escalate to levels similar to the devastating West Africa epidemic between 2014 and 2016, which killed more than 11,000 people.
Jason Asher, director of prevention and epidemiological analysis at the CDC, said models suggest a large-scale outbreak remains possible without strict public health measures.
The World Health Organization has already classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.
Health experts believe the virus may have spread undetected for weeks before authorities officially identified the outbreak. Officials said the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the current cases initially causes symptoms similar to influenza, malaria and typhoid, making early detection more difficult.
Ebola spreads through direct contact and bodily fluids and can lead to severe hemorrhagic fever. The virus has caused more than 15,000 deaths across Africa over the past five decades.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, which has faced repeated Ebola outbreaks in recent years, continues to struggle with armed conflict and weak healthcare infrastructure in several regions affected by the disease.
