Estimated DR Congo Ebola death toll jumps to 131

The toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to an estimated 131 deaths from 513 suspected cases, Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said. He however cautioned that the toll was an estimate and further research was needed to confirm whether all 131 suspected deaths were indeed linked to Ebola.

The virus has already spread into neighbouring provinces, as well as beyond the DRC's borders. As few samples have been able to be tested in laboratories to date, the assessments are based mainly on suspected cases.