Ebola has spread to a health zone more than 100 miles from the mining town where the Democratic Republic of Congo's latest outbreak is believed to have originated, Bloomberg reported.

Health officials confirmed the virus has been detected in a distant health zone from Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province in northeastern Congo where the outbreak was first identified.

The development underscores the challenges facing response teams working to contain the disease in a region marked by armed conflict, population movement and deep mistrust of authorities.

The outbreak has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization and the death toll has risen to more than 100. Two cases, including one death, have also been reported in neighboring Uganda.

Contact tracing is considered one of the most critical tools for containing Ebola.

Health workers identify and monitor people who have had contact with infected individuals, allowing authorities to isolate new cases quickly and limit further transmission. When large numbers of contacts cannot be located or monitored, the risk of undetected spread increases significantly.

The appearance of Ebola in a health zone more than 100 miles away has heightened fears that infected individuals may be traveling beyond the outbreak's original epicenter before symptoms are detected.

Public health experts have warned that mobility in the region, combined with security challenges, could complicate efforts to break chains of transmission.

Response teams have deployed vaccination campaigns, treatment centers and community outreach efforts across affected areas.

However, violence and attacks by armed groups have repeatedly disrupted operations, forcing temporary suspensions of medical activities and limiting access to some communities.

Officials continue to urge residents to report symptoms promptly and cooperate with contact tracers and vaccination teams. International health agencies are supporting the Congolese government in the response, providing personnel, supplies and technical expertise.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks over the past several decades, with health officials drawing on lessons from previous responses as they confront the latest crisis.