Ebola spreads from Gabon to Congo

Most of the suspected victims were related to one of the confirmed cases

GENEVA, Switzerland -- An outbreak of the deadly Ebola has spread from the central African nation of Gabon to neighbouring Congo, officials have said.

The World Health Organisation said in a statement on Thursday that 11 cases of the virus, which has gruesome affects, has been detected in the Republic of Congo.

The virus has already killed 15 people in Gabon, since the first case was reported earlier this month.

Health authorities had feared the disease would spread as the Gabon outbreak was just a few miles from the border.

At least one woman believed to be infected with Ebola fled Gabon before being located in the village of Mbomo, in the Republic of Congo, health authorities said on Wednesday.

The woman's baby had died and she was reported to be in a serious condition.

RESOURCES Trail of the Ebola virus

"The international team is operational on both sides of the border and is working closely in the field with the team from the Congolese Ministry of Health on outbreak control interventions," the WHO said.

Medical staff are trying to trace everyone who has had contact with any of the known victims so they can check for any symptoms.

A total of 133 contacts are being followed up in Gabon and 94 in the Republic of Congo, WHO said.

Ebola is one of the most deadly viral diseases known to humankind, causing death in 50 to 90 percent of those who become infected.

It is passed through contact with bodily fluids, such as mucus, saliva and blood, but is not airborne. It incubates for four to 10 days before flu-like symptoms set in.

Eventually, the virus causes severe internal bleeding, vomiting and diarrhoea.

No cure exists.

The WHO says more than 800 people have died of the disease since the virus was first identified in 1976 in western Sudan and in a nearby region of Congo.

The disease last struck in Uganda, killing 224 people in 2001.