GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization called Tuesday for more support across to board to combat the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo, which is still outpacing response efforts.

The outbreak is the biggest ever to have hit the DR Congo, despite being declared less than three months ago.

“The outbreak is unfortunately still expanding beyond the capacity of the response,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told reporters in Geneva.

“We need more support in terms of finances, but also other resources to scale up all areas of response: treatment capacity, field investigation teams, safe burial teams and community workers.”

There have been 3,748 confirmed cases of Ebola in the DRC, including 1,657 deaths. A total of 708 patients have recovered, and there are 227 suspected cases under investigation.

A total of 17,000 contacts of cases are being monitored, with more than 80 percent of them receiving daily check-ups.

Though cases have been reported from five provinces, nearly 90 percent are in northeastern Ituri, with nearly all the rest in neighbouring North Kivu.

Jasarevic said the response needed to focus on where the virus is spreading now, and where it might go next.

A viral haemorrhagic fever, Ebola spreads through close contact and infected bodily fluids.

The outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola — for which there are no proven safe and efficacious treatments for patients, preventative vaccines or prophylaxis options to stop people exposed to the virus from falling ill.

But various trials are under way of potential treatments, vaccines and post-exposure antiviral drugs.

The DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak was declared on May 15 after several deaths in Ituri.