WHO says Congo's fast-moving Ebola outbreak started months before it was declared
The World Health Organization reports that the current Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo began in February, months before its official declaration in May. The virus has already caused over 4,200 cases and 1,900 deaths, exacerbated by misinformation and challenging local conditions.
Why it matters
The delay in identifying the outbreak has allowed the virus to spread rapidly, highlighting critical gaps in early detection and public health infrastructure in conflict-prone regions.
by CONSTANT SAME BAGALWA and MARK BANCHEREAU
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Wiza Bondele, Right, a health worker on the prevention and control team, seen at work in Ituri province, eastern Congo, Wednesday, Aug 5, 2026. Credit: AP Photo/Dieudonne Dirole The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record started in February, months before it was officially declared in mid-May, the World Health Organization said Monday as responders in eastern Congo struggle to catch up.
The WHO regional director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, told a news conference that sequencing indicated the outbreak's start. He said some cases early on were wrongly attributed to malaria and typhoid.
"So we are chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us," Janabi said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in