The World Health Organization, WHO, has said that Congo's deadly Ebola outbreak is now the second largest in history, behind the devastating West Africa outbreak that killed thousands a few years ago.

WHO emergencies chief Dr. Peter Salama called it "a sad toll" as Congo's health ministry announced the number of cases has reached 426.

The total number of cases include 379 confirmed and 47 probable ones. Salama this month predicted that the outbreak in northeastern Congo will last at least another six months before it can be contained.