The killer Ebola outbreak in the Democratic of Congo will only get worse if political instability continues to break the public's trust, experts fear.
Professor Jeremy Farrar, an infectious disease expert and director of the Wellcome Trust, said there is 'nothing to stop' the epidemic spiralling into 'worst case scenario' as a result of ongoing political conflict.
Felix Tshisekedi was declared the winner after the DRC's presidential elections on December 30, which took place two years behind schedule.
But accusations that the results of the first uncontested democratic transfer of power after 18 years don't 'add up' are threatening more violence.
As a result the 'public health will suffer', as confidence in authorities is essential for containing the virus - considered one of the most lethal in existence.
Ebola has already struck 649 people, killing 396 of them as of January 13, according to figures from the DRC's health ministry.
The death toll is 392 - including 343 among confirmed cases - but is feared to become even worse during a time of political instability and mistrust in the health authorities
Felix Tshisekedi was declared the winner after the DRC presidential elections on December 30, which has led to more political conflict and public mistrust
Professor Farrar, who recently visited the DRC with a WHO leadership team, said: 'The worst case scenario is that political instability remains, mistrust grows ... and then there's nothing to stop the epidemic getting embedded into a big urban centre and taking off as it did in West Africa.'
The breakout is the second largest in history after the 2014 West Africa Ebola that lasted for two years, infecting 28,000 and killing more than 11,300.
A US medic who was quarantined amid fears he caught Ebola while treating patients in Africa has been released from hospital.
The unnamed physician, 39, did not display any symptoms during his three-week stay in medical isolation at a hospital in Nebraska.
He had been in quarantine since December 29, after returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where an Ebola outbreak is ongoing.
The patient came home from a trip to Burundi, in central Africa. The only cases of Ebola reported in Africa this year have been in the DRC.
Reports suggest the medic was given an experimental Ebola vaccine as a post-exposure preventive precaution.
Mr Tshisekedi was surprisingly declared the winner of the election on Thursday, leading to claims of fraud and calls for a recount.
It was supposed to mark the end of a chaotic 18 years of ruling by President Joseph Kabila, and it was believed that Martin Fayulu, Mr Tshisekedi's rival within the opposition, would win.
The announcement has threatened more volatility in the unstable African state.
Professor Farrar said making sure the public are confident in health authorities is essential when fighting a fast-spreading disease, especially where local services are scant.
Professor Farrar said: 'When you have political instability, public health always suffers.'
An Ebola centre was ransacked in December by protesters who were furious over further voting delays.
Three cities in the DRC, Beni and Butembo in the eastern North Kivu province, and the city of Yumbi in western Bandundu province, were rescheduled by the electoral commission CENI to take place in March this year.
In response, the treatment centre, housing people suspected of having the highly contagious disease, was attacked.
It's not the first time health workers have been at the forefront of conflict - with medical staff being kidnapped and killed by armed rebels in previous months.
As of 12 January, the total of Ebola cases has risen to 649,
