The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has exceeded 1,000 confirmed infections, with 254 deaths reported so far, according to health authorities.

In a statement released Sunday, officials said the number of confirmed cases had reached 1,003. Since the outbreak was officially declared on May 15, 100 patients have recovered.

The outbreak is centered in Ituri Province and is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. Unlike some other Ebola variants, no approved vaccine or specific treatment is currently available for this strain.

Health officials have described the outbreak as the most severe ever recorded during its first month. They also caution that the true number of infections may be considerably higher, as many cases could remain undetected and the epidemic has not yet reached its peak.

Efforts to contain the virus continue to face significant challenges. Contact tracing coverage currently stands at only 55%, limiting the ability of health teams to identify and isolate potential cases quickly.

Authorities have not yet determined the source of the outbreak or identified the initial patient. In addition, more than 35,000 people who may have been exposed to infected individuals still need to be traced and monitored.

Public health officials warn that strengthening surveillance, case detection, and contact tracing will be critical to slowing the spread of the disease in the coming weeks.