Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, said: "It’s vital the global response to this outbreak is swift.

"We must ensure the very best protection for the communities at risk and for the health workers working to protect lives – now and for future outbreaks."

Peter Salama, WHO deputy director-general, emergency preparedness and response, welcomed the UK support.

“The first step in containing this outbreak is to understand the extent of transmission, ensure care for people infected, engage communities and trace contacts. The generous support from Wellcome and partners like DFID in combination with WHO’s Contingency Fund for Emergencies is already making a difference.”

A team of experts from the WHO, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and Equateur province travelled to Bikoro on Tuesday to beef up coordination and carry out investigations.

WHO released $1 million (£738,200) from an emergency contingency fund, has set up a coordination group and deployed more than 50 experts to work with the DRC government and health agencies.

MSF, which has worked with the Congolese authorities in the past to bring Ebola outbreaks under control, has deployed a team to help with the response.

Julien Raickman, MSF head of mission in DRC, said: “At the moment there is an experienced MSF team in Bikoro, made up of medics, water and sanitation experts, health promoters, logisticians and an epidemiologist. The team is working with the national authorities and other international organisations to assess the situation and to ensure that the outbreak is contained.”