Ebola spreads to DR Congo city surrounded by rebels: WHO

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to a city surrounded by rebels, creating challenges responders were "dreading," the World Health Organization said today.

One probable case and one suspected case have emerged in the city of Oicha in DRC's North Kivu province, WHO's emergency response chief, Peter Salama, told reporters.

While Oicha itself is not under rebel control, Salama said the city is entirely surrounded by territory held by a feared Ugandan insurgent group known as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

"For the first time we have a confirmed case...in an area with high insecurity," Salama said.

"It really was the problem we were anticipating and the problem at the same time we were dreading."
The virus has killed 63 people so far -- out of 103 confirmed or probable cases -- but Salama warned health workers were expecting "at least one additional wave of cases."