India, June 15 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has climbed to 782 confirmed cases and 181 deaths, health authorities said on Sunday, as the virus spread to new health zones in the country's conflict-hit east and crossed into neighbouring Uganda.

According to Congo's Ministry of Health, the outbreak has now affected two additional health zones, Nia-Nia in Ituri province and Mabalako in North Kivu - raising concerns about further transmission as authorities race to contain the virus.

The outbreak was declared on May 15, though health officials have said the virus had likely been circulating undetected for weeks before it was identified.

The current outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus,...