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Congo's deadly Ebola outbreak is now the second largest in history after the devastating West Africa outbreak that killed thousands a few years ago, the World Health Organisation said on Thursday.
Congo's health ministry announced that the number of cases has reached 426, including 379 confirmed cases and 47 probable ones. WHO emergencies chief Dr. Peter Salama said it was a "sad toll".
Attacks by rebel groups and open hostility by some wary locals have posed serious challenges that Ebola workers say they have never faced before. Many venture out on critical virus containment work only with the accompaniment of UN peacekeepers while gunfire echoes daily.
Salama this month predicted that the outbreak in northeastern Congo will last at least another six months before it can be contained.
(With AP inputs)
