GENEVA/KINSHASA/KAMPALA - The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the fastest-growing ever recorded as the number of confirmed cases surpassed 2,000, with the majority of new infections now coming from unknown chains of transmission.

Speaking to reporters after returning from the epicenter in Ituri province, Chikwe Ihekweazu, executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, said that single-day infection numbers have hit record highs over the past few days, with more than 80 cases confirmed in a 24-hour period.

"We've seen the fastest growth in a single month since the outbreak started and of all the Ebola outbreaks that we have managed," Ihekweazu said.

According to a situation report released Tuesday by DRC health authorities, the number of confirmed Ebola cases in the country has reached 2,011, including 754 deaths.

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The outbreak has affected five provinces, namely Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo. A total of 366 patients have recovered, while 753 people remain in isolation.

The report said transmission remains intense in Ituri, confirming the province as the main hotspot of the outbreak. The emergence of new cases in Haut-Uele indicates a further geographical spread, requiring an immediate strengthening of surveillance, diagnostic capacity and operational preparedness.

The outbreak remains in a phase of "sustained transmission," marked by a rapid rise in cases since it began, the report said.

According to Ihekweazu, one of the most alarming findings is that many of the newly reported deaths occurred in communities, meaning patients never reached a health facility or received care.

Despite improvements in diagnostics and high contact-tracing rates, Ihekweazu warned that "80 percent of new cases are outside our contact lists and so are coming to us from unknown chains of transmission." WHO modelling suggests the true scale could be "at least two to four times" the number of reported cases.

The outbreak was declared just two months ago. While up to 95 percent of new cases still originate in Ituri, the virus has recently spread to two additional provinces, Haut-Uele and Tshopo.

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To tackle the crisis, WHO outlined a dual strategy: intensifying response efforts in the epicenter while mapping travel routes and identifying high-risk areas for potential new cases.

Urging the international community not to become "despondent", Ihekweazu stressed that results are being achieved. "Now is not the time to drop the ball," he said.

Although several therapeutics are undergoing clinical trials and no approved treatment yet exists for the Bundibugyo species, early supportive care significantly improves survival. "We must find the cases earlier, bring them into care as soon as possible," Ihekweazu said.

Uganda calls for sustained international support

Also on Tuesday, Uganda called for sustained collaboration among international partners as it supports neighboring DRC in responding to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

Ugandan Minister of Health Chris Baryomunsi made the appeal during an Ebola Accountability Forum co-hosted by the Ugandan government and the WHO in Kampala to review the country's outbreak response.

According to a Ministry of Health statement posted on social media platform X, the forum reviewed mobilized resources, financial expenditures, and the implementation of the national Ebola response and preparedness plans.