ADDIS ABABA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Sunday warned the African continent and the global community over the growing risk of regional spread of the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

"The affected area is characterized by high population mobility, insecurity, and intense cross-border connectivity with neighboring countries, including Uganda," director general of Africa CDC, Jean Kaseya, said in a statement issued Sunday. "This alert underscored the urgent need for coordinated continental action to prevent further spread and safeguard regional and continental health security."

This came as the death toll from the outbreak, which originated from the Ituri Province in eastern DRC, has risen to 87 in the DRC, according to the latest data from the Africa CDC. The agency also warned that the outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo strain, for which no strain-specific vaccine is currently available, and that it carries a high risk of regional spread.

The Africa CDC chief said, in line with the Africa CDC's mandate, when an outbreak affects more than one member state, the agency assumes responsibility for leading and coordinating the response at the regional and continental levels, bringing all partners together.

Noting that the agency is supporting South Sudan to advance preparedness measures, due to its geographical proximity to Ituri Province, Kaseya said the Africa CDC will continue to work closely with all partners to ensure that timely and appropriate support is provided to all affected and at-risk countries.

On Saturday, the Africa CDC convened a high-level consultative meeting, bringing together more than 130 participants representing affected and at-risk countries as well as global donor partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), various UN agencies, humanitarian agencies and pharmaceutical companies.

He stressed that the agency "remains fully committed to working with member states and partners to protect lives, contain the outbreak, and strengthen Africa's health security and preparedness architecture."

During an online press briefing on Saturday, Kaseya said that a total of 336 cases, including both suspected and confirmed infections, and 87 deaths have been reported in the latest outbreak in Ituri Province in eastern DRC -- the country's 17th Ebola outbreak since 1976.

The outbreak has raised regional alarm after Uganda reported an imported Bundibugyo case from the DRC, while Africa CDC warned that cross-border movement, mining-related mobility, and weak surveillance could hamper containment.

"This outbreak started in April. So far, we don't know the index case. It means we don't know how far the magnitude of this outbreak is," Kaseya said.

Ebola virus is highly contagious and can cause symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalized pain or malaise, and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. According to the WHO, Ebola fatality rates range from 50 percent to 89 percent, depending on the viral subtype. ■