G7 Urges Strong Global Response to Ebola Outbreak

Evian: G7 leaders called on Tuesday for a "strong and coordinated" response to the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo, with the Red Cross warning the epidemic has yet to peak.

At a summit in France, the leaders of the group of seven industrialised nations called for a "strong and coordinated response to address the health security risks posed by the re-emerging outbreak of Ebola" in DRC and Uganda, according to a statement.

"Containing and ending the outbreak will depend on effective contact tracing, infection prevention and control, quarantine and isolation practices, laboratory testing, cross-border preparedness, border surveillance and community engagement," the statement added.

The outbreak in DRC has yet to peak and could take a year to contain, the Red Cross warned on Tuesday.

Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, 808 cases have been confirmed in DRC, including 192 deaths, according to the latest World Health Organization figures.