Heavy fighting between the the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) army and rebels has been reported in the east of the DRC as health workers continue to battle a deadly Ebola outbreak.<\/p>\n
Clashes broke out between the M23 rebels and DRC forces in North Kivu province, in the east of the DRC, after several weeks of relative calm.<\/p>\n
Health officials warn that the clashes will make it difficult to tackle the outbreak of the disease.<\/p>\n
Residents say the two sides are fighting for control of Katoyi town, which is in Masisi territory.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of civilians have been displaced by the fighting as the region grapples with an Ebola outbreak.<\/p>\n
Cases of the infectious disease have been reported in North and South Kivu provinces, which are partly controlled by M23 rebels.<\/p>\n
Health officials say the fighting and population displacement are making it hard to transport medical supplies and treat patients.<\/p>\n
There are also fears that civilians fleeing the violence may spread the disease to other areas.<\/p>\n
The Ebola outbreak in the DRC is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain for which there is no approved vaccine.<\/p>\n
The World Health Organisation recently declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.<\/p>\n
That category is reserved for diseases with a high risk of spreading globally.<\/p>\n
Despite the United Nations health body saying the risk of the disease spreading in the DRC is very high, it also says the global risk remains low.<\/p>\n
The United States and the African Union are leading efforts to end the conflict in eastern DRC, but fighting has continued.<\/p>\n
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