WHO says DRC Ebola outbreak began months before declaration

DRC Ebola outbreak started in February, WHO says

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record began in February, months before authorities officially declared it on May 15, the World Health Organization said. Early cases were wrongly attributed to malaria and typhoid, WHO Africa regional director Mohamed Janabi said.

Confirmed Ebola cases have reached 4,200, including at least 1,900 deaths, according to the latest government figures. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments.

Why the outbreak was detected late

Janabi said genetic sequencing indicated the outbreak began in February. Early testing focused on the more common type of Ebola, contributing to delays in identifying the Bundibugyo virus.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week that Ebola was spreading faster than response efforts, with new cases doubling in some hotspots. The agency’s warning came as health teams worked across a region affected by rebel conflict and limited access to healthcare.

What is making the response harder

Responders face strikes by some unpaid health workers, threats from rebel groups, anger in communities traumatised by previous crises and misinformation claiming that Ebola is not real. Teams also travel on remote, unpaved roads and have reported shortages of protective equipment.

Many displaced people lack reliable water for hygienic handwashing. Ebola can spread through contact with bodily fluids, including blood or semen, and through contaminated materials such as bedding and clothing; the illness is severe and often fatal.

Vaccine options under review

On Friday, the WHO recommended full-scale human trials for Ervebo, the only licensed Ebola vaccine. It has proved safe and effective against the more common Zaire strain, while early data suggest it may also provide some protection against Bundibugyo.

WHO experts said a vaccine designed specifically for Bundibugyo remains the preferred option. Two potential vaccines are in early human clinical trials, and a third is being prepared for that stage.