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Democratic Republic of Congo this week reported 39 suspected, probable or confirmed cases of the disease since April 4.

There have been 20 deaths since this date, the World Health Organisation said, marking a rise from the 32 suspected and 18 confirmed dead last week.

Now WHO has called for an emergency meeting tomorrow in a frantic bid to get to grips with the outbreak.

Spokesman Christian Lindmeier said it will consider declaring a "public health emergency of international concern".

This would trigger more international involvement, he added.

(Image: REUTERS)

Last week WHO deputy director-general of prepareness and response, Peter Salama, said: "The number of suspected, probable and confirmed cases is significant, so we are very concerned, and we are planning for all scenarios, including the worst-case scenario."

It comes after the disease was detected in the DRC city of Mbandaka on Wednesday.

It led health ninister Oly Illunga Kalenga to say: "We are entering a new phase of Ebola outbreak that is now affecting three health zones, including an urban health zone.

"Since the announcement of the alert in Mbandaka, our epidemiologists are working in the field to identify people who have been in contact with suspected cases."

The disease is most feared for the internal and external bleeding it causes victims after blood vessel damage.

WHO regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said: "The arrival of Ebola in an urban area is very concerning and WHO and partners are working together to rapidly scale up the search for all contacts of the confirmed case in the Mbandaka area."

Yesterday experts warned the disease may never be eradicated.

Professor William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said efforts to contain the virus will "take some time to function optimally".

"The virus is zoonotic,” Prof Schaffner told Daily Star Online.

"That is, its reservoir is in bats, so there will continue to be the hazard of new, repeated introductions into the human population. So eradication is not on the cards."