The number of people infected with Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has topped 100 – including 63 who have died, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

The ongoing outbreak which has affected 103 people is largely focused in the east of the country in the province of North Kivu where a number militant groups currently operate.

Now, a case of the disease has been discovered in a doctor in the town of Oicho in North Kivu, 30 kilometres east of the trading city of Beni, raising concerns that more cases could be discovered in the area.

Although Oicho is designated by the UN as a security "yellow zone" which means that armed attacks are unlikely, the UN considers the road to Oicha to be a highly insecure "red zone".

"It is the first time we have a confirmed case and contacts in an area of high insecurity. It is really the problem we were anticipating and at same time dreading," said Dr Peter Salama, WHO's deputy director-general for emergency preparedness and response.

Oicha is almost entirely surrounded by ADF Islamist militia and can only be accessed with an armed military escort.