Congo's Ebola caseload tops 6,000 as concerns grow

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to escalate, with confirmed infections now topping 6,000 and the death toll reaching 2,911, according to government figures.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus , has spread to around 60 zones in six provinces, raising fears that the virus is outpacing efforts to contain it.

"Around 60 health zones are now affected, every week more are added to the list. And the same pattern is repeated everywhere: initially, there is resistance and denial, followed by gradual acceptance," DW correspondent Jonas Gerding reported from Bunia, the capital of the Ituri province, the epicenter of the latest Ebola outbreak in Congo.

"Unfortunately, a lot more people will die until this Ebola outbreak gets under control," he added.

Health experts have said the situation is particularly worrying in eastern Congo, where conflict and insecurity are making it harder for response teams to reach affected communities.

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"This outbreak is the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic on record. It is growing faster and wider than the response to contain it, but it can be stopped," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told journalists last week.

The United Nations has appealed for more funding as humanitarian agencies struggle to keep pace with the increasing number of cases.