Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have announced that the death toll from the Ebola outbreak has risen to 506, with new cases continuing to be reported in several affected areas.

In a report, they stated that the number of confirmed infections has risen to 1,561, including 506 deaths, while 254 patients have recovered, and 628 patients are still receiving treatment or under quarantine.

They added that authorities have also recorded 354 suspected cases, including 110 deaths, noting that the outbreak has so far spread to 36 health zones across three provinces in the eastern part of the country.

This comes as the World Health Organization has launched a clinical trial in the DR Congo to evaluate potential treatments for Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

The trials are being conducted at the Ebola treatment center in the Rwampara health zone of Ituri province, the main epicenter of the outbreak, as part of international efforts to contain the spread of the disease and improve treatment options for patients.