Medics say the epidemic in the remote region along the Congo border could be contained within months.

International health organisations say the epidemic, which has already killed at least 800 people, is still not under control.

As the global number of coronavirus infections approaches half a million, health officials say the epidemic is still in its early stages.

The medical charity MSF says the epidemic is now out of control.

Neighbouring Mozambique said the epidemic had spread there too, killing 40 people.

Aug. 15: MSF says the epidemic will take about six months to control.

Zimbabwe's government has said the epidemic is under control.

On Monday Health Minister David Parirenyatwa said the epidemic could get worse as the rainy season develops.

Global stocks have rallied after China's senior medical advisor said the epidemic would be over by April.

Officials said the epidemic had spread to Thailand and Japan, with the cases involving recent travel from China.

The National AIDS Council Secretariat in PNG says the epidemic has been contained, but some are not so sure.

He said the epidemic was the "largest public health emergency" since the founding of the People's Republic in 1949.

But the World Health Organization (WHO) says the epidemic there has peaked and has been declining since Feb. 2.

Unasa said the epidemic was preventable and there must be an inquiry into how immunisation rates fell so low in Samoa.

Confirming a demographic shift in the virus's spread, the WHO's western Pacific regional director, Takeshi Kasai, said the epidemic was changing.

The number of new cases dropped to just 17 yesterday with the Director-General of Health saying the epidemic has passed its peak.