The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the last patient treated for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been discharged, bringing the 19-month-old outbreak closer than ever to an end.

The patient's release from a hospital in the eastern city of Beni on Tuesday, feted by hospital staff who sang, danced and drummed on rubbish bins, marked the first time there have been no active cases since the outbreak was declared in August 2018.

During the period the virus killed 2 264 people, and infected nearly 1 200 more, making it the second-worst Ebola outbreak in history.

The DRC has now gone 14 days without any new confirmed cases, and the outbreak can be declared over once 42 days have passed without a new case - equivalent to two cycles of 21 days, the maximum incubation period for the virus.