A deadly Ebola outbreak may be spreading faster than initially estimated, according to a warning from the World Health Organization (WHO). People living close to the epicentre of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have expressed fear, as the virus continues to claim lives in the region. The WHO’s Dr Anne Ancia told the BBC that the more the UN agency investigated the outbreak, the clearer it became that cases had spread to other areas.

High Death Toll and Rising Cases

Officials report that the virus has killed 136 people in the DR Congo, with more than 514 cases now suspected in the country; One person has died in neighbouring Uganda. Dr Ancia highlighted that the outbreak had already spread to the province of South Kivu, where the population has been affected by a humanitarian crisis for many years.

A modelling study by the London-based MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, released on Monday, suggested there had been “substantial” under-detection, and that it could not rule out there had already been more than 1,000 cases. The study indicated that the current outbreak was “larger than currently ascertained” and that its “true magnitude remains uncertain”.

Local Fears and Precautions

Locals in the Ituri province have shared their fears with the BBC; One man identified as Bigboy said people were “really scared” and taking precautions such as washing hands with clean water. He wished they could get access to other protective supplies such as face masks, Another Ituri local, Alfred Giza, said people in the community were aware of the threat but were waiting to receive protective gear.

The Red Cross warned that Ebola could escalate quickly if cases were not identified early, communities lacked information and health systems were overwhelmed — it added, “we are seeing all those conditions” in the current outbreak. The Red Cross also noted that many people in the affected region were living in unsanitary conditions due to years of conflict and displacement.

International Response and Funding

DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi called for “calm” and urged citizens to remain vigilant after a crisis meeting. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Who declared the outbreak an international emergency last week, said he was “deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic”; the cash-strapped organisation has already released almost $4m (£3m) to combat the outbreak, but much more may be needed.

Germany’s health ministry told the BBC that a US citizen was taken to the country for treatment, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said at least six other Americans who were exposed were also being evacuated. On Tuesday. The agency said it was in the process of moving the Americans to Germany and the Czech Republic, where they would be monitored for symptoms in quarantine.

Several African countries are taking precautions by tightening border screenings and preparing health facilities; Neighbouring Rwanda has also closed its borders with the DR Congo — Uganda has told people to avoid hugging and shaking hands. The WHO and other agencies are working with governments and communities to try to stop the spread of the virus, urging residents to follow preventative measures and report to the nearest health facility if they experience any symptoms.