Geneva, Aug. 5 (SANA)The World Health Organization(WHO) on Tuesday called for increased international support to help contain anEbola outbreakin the Democratic Republic ofCongo(DRC), warning that the spread of the virus has exceeded current response capacities.

WHO spokespersonTarik Jasarevictold reporters inGenevathat the outbreak continues to expand and requires additional funding and resources to strengthen response efforts.

“Unfortunately, the outbreak is still expanding beyond response capacities,” Jasarevic said, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP), stressing the need to scale up all areas of the response.

He said efforts should focus on areas where the virus is currently spreading, as well as locations at risk of future transmission.

The outbreak is spreading at an unprecedented rate in parts of the DRC with limited healthcare infrastructure.

The country has recorded 3,748confirmed Ebola cases, including 1,657 deaths, while 708 patients have recovered. Authorities have also identified 227 suspected cases and are monitoring around 17,000 contacts linked to infections.

Cases have been reported in five provinces, with around 90% of infections concentrated in Ituri province in northeastern DRC. The outbreak has also spread to other areas, including North Kivu and South Kivu.

Ebola is transmitted through close contact and bodily fluids and can cause severe hemorrhagic fever. Over the past five decades, the virus has killed more than 15,000 people across Africa.

The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15. The current outbreak involves the rareBundibugyo strain, for which no vaccine or treatment is currently available.