The latest update comes just three days after the death toll surpassed 500, highlighting the rapid spread of the virus in the Central African country.

According to data compiled by the WHO from Congolese health authorities, the DRC has recorded 1,759 confirmed Ebola cases since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, including 600 confirmed deaths.

The outbreak has also spread beyond the DRC, with neighbouring Uganda reporting two deaths. Ugandan health authorities have confirmed 20 Ebola cases, with 17 patients having recovered.

The WHO said the outbreak in the DRC currently has a case fatality rate of about 34 per cent.

Health officials also disclosed that 285 patients have recovered, while 304 suspected cases are still under investigation.

Although four provinces in northeastern DRC have been affected, Ituri Province remains the epicentre of the outbreak.

The current outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or licensed treatments.

To improve treatment options, health authorities on July 2 launched a clinical trial to evaluate two potential therapies. The study is assessing the effectiveness of the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral drug remdesivir, both individually and in combination.

Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons or contaminated materials.

The Democratic Republic of Congo declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15 after several deaths were reported in the mineral-rich Ituri Province, a region that has long been plagued by armed conflict and insecurity.

The case marks the first confirmed Ebola infection recorded on French soil and the first detected outside Africa during the current outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

According to the French Health Ministry, the infected doctor was immediately isolated upon arrival in the country, even before laboratory tests officially confirmed the diagnosis.

Authorities said the patient had recently returned from the DRC, where health officials are battling the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak, declared on May 15 following a series of unexplained deaths in the eastern province of Ituri.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is closely monitoring developments, according to his office.

Health experts have noted that while the outbreak remains a concern, the overall risk of widespread international transmission is considered low due to Ebola’s relatively limited contagiousness compared to other infectious diseases.

The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment is currently available.

French health authorities said they are continuing to monitor the situation and implement measures aimed at preventing further transmission.

AFP