The Democratic Republic of Congo said late on Sunday that confirmed Ebola cases in the country had risen to 1,003, including 254 deaths. In an update on Saturday, the government put confirmed cases at 956 and deaths at 247.
The current Ebola outbreak has the potential to be one of the largest ever, the head of Africa's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Tuesday, echoing a similar projection made earlier this month by the US CDC.
Uganda, which shares a border with DR Congo, has reported 19 confirmed cases of the virus, including two deaths.
However, it has not reported any new cases since 5 June, the WHO has said.
In Congo, the health ministry says it has stepped up surveillance systems, contact tracing and treatment infrastructure, with dedicated centres in several affected towns.
The Congolese government has established four laboratories in Ituri - in Bunia, Mongbwalu, Beni and Aru - which can test blood samples for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola. Results can now be delivered within 24 hours, removing earlier delays.
Surveillance systems, contact tracing and the treatment infrastructure, with dedicated centres in several affected towns, have also been expanded, according to the health minister.
The current Ebola outbreak in Congo has been declared a public health emergency of international concern, by the World Health Organization.
The WHO has pledged $3.9m (£2.9m) to tackling the outbreak, while Africa CDC has announced a $319m budget.
What is Ebola?
Ebola is a rare but deadly disease caused by a virus.
Ebola viruses normally infect animals, typically fruit bats, but outbreaks among humans can sometimes start when people eat or handle infected animals.
It takes two to 21 days for symptoms to appear. They come on suddenly and start like the flu or malaria, with fever, headache and tiredness.
As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhoea develop and it can lead to organ failure. Some, but not all, patients develop internal and external bleeding.
(With agency inputs from Reuters)
