WHO declares Congo Ebola crisis as international emergency

Health officials say the outbreak has killed more than 1,600 people so far (JOHN WESSELS / AFP)

The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo as an international emergency.

Health officials say the outbreak has killed more than 1,600 people so far.

They say it could spread to neighbouring countries like Uganda if it's not contained quickly.

However they have not ordered the closing of any borders.

The first case was detected in the city of Goma, which is home to more than a million people.

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