WHO finds Congo Ebola surge began months before official declaration

WHO officials announced that the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record in eastern Congo began in February, months before the formal declaration on May 15. Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi explained that genetic sequencing revealed the virus’s early presence, and that initial patients were mistakenly treated for malaria and typhoid. The disease, driven by the Bundibugyo variant, has reached 4,200 confirmed cases and over 1,900 fatalities, according to the latest government figures.

Responders contend with unpaid staff strikes, rebel intimidation, community distrust and a lack of protective equipment, all while operating on remote, unpaved roads. The outbreak spreads faster than previous crises, with new infections doubling in some hotspots, and a large portion of cases occurring outside monitored contacts. The situation is compounded by displacement, limited water supplies and pregnant women avoiding health centers out of fear.