The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to expand with confirmed cases approaching 4,000.

In less than three months since being declared, the outbreak has recorded 3,748 confirmed cases, with 1,657 deaths and case fatality rate of 44%.

Six hundred and ninety patients are hospitalized in isolation. This represents an increase of 74 new confirmed cases since the previous report released on Saturday, August 1.

The disease is predominantly concentrated in eastern DR Congo's Ituri province, though it has also spread to five other provinces.

(With input from wires)