The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing its worst Ebola outbreak in the country's recorded history, health officials have said.

The announcement late on Friday came amid increasing warnings that the situation could deteriorate because of attacks by armed groups and community resistance in the affected areas in eastern DRC.

Oly Ilunga Kalenga, the DRC's health minister, said a total of 319 confirmed and probable cases have been reported inNorth Kivu and Ituri provinces since the outbreak was declared in August.

The figure exceeds the318 cases documented in 1976, when thedeadlyEbola viruswas first identified in Yambuku,in the Equateur province.

Kalenga said198 deaths have been recorded so far in the current outbreak, the country's 10th, including 165 confirmed cases, with 35 probable deaths.Of the 284 confirmed cases, 97 have survived.

"This epidemic remains dangerous and unpredictable, and we must not let our guard down," Kalenga said in a statement.

"We must continue to pursue a very dynamic response that requires permanent readjustments and real ownership at the community level." (Aljazeera)