Ebola outbreak kills 600 in Eastern Congo

The virus has also crossed the border into neighboring Uganda.

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo: The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 600, according to the latest figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO said the outbreak has infected 1,759 people in eastern Congo. Just three days earlier, health officials had reported 500 deaths, indicating a sharp increase in fatalities.

The outbreak began in May and has spread across four provinces, with Ituri Province in northeastern Congo remaining the hardest-hit area.

The virus has also crossed the border into neighboring Uganda, where two deaths have been reported.

Health officials said there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the strain involved in the outbreak.

However, the WHO said clinical trials of an experimental vaccine and treatment have begun in Bunia, eastern Congo, in an effort to contain the disease and improve patient outcomes.