Ebola has spread into new areas of north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including a crowded displacement camp, igniting fears that the country's nearly month-long outbreak is escalating.

The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, is now exhibiting signs of local transmission in newly affected communities, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) official warned Friday, indicating that response measures are struggling to keep pace.

Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, the WHO reports 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. An additional 119 suspected cases are being investigated as the virus expands its reach.

Olivier le Polain, the WHO's head of epidemiology and analytics, stated that new health zones within the three affected provinces are reporting cases on an almost daily basis. This rapid spread highlights the significant scale of the outbreak and the high mobility of the population.

Le Polain noted that while recent cases in new areas could often be linked to travel from known hotspots, the situation has evolved. "We also see local community spread in new areas," he explained, adding that "there are still many blind spots in some areas that are high risk."

The UN refugee agency confirmed the first Ebola-related deaths within the Kpanga displacement camp in Ituri province, a densely populated area where containment efforts face immense challenges. The government's ability to manage the outbreak is further complicated by ongoing conflict and the presence of armed groups vying for control in the region.

The WHO emphasized that more extensive efforts are required to contain the virus. Current isolation bed capacity is significantly lower than what is anticipated to be needed, given the current trajectory of the outbreak. Compounding the challenge, no approved vaccines or treatments are available for the Bundibugyo strain.

Contact tracing is improving but remains insufficient for effective control, Le Polain stated. "There's a lot more that needs to be done across the board: more supplies to ensure that we've got safe spaces to isolate patients. Surveillance can scale up, but if you don’t have any space to put your patients safely, it becomes very difficult," he elaborated.