WHO says Congo Ebola outbreak began in February, months before official declaration

The World Health Organization said on Monday that the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo began in February, based on genetic sequencing, rather than the mid-May date when it was officially declared. WHO Africa regional director Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi told reporters that early cases had been misdiagnosed as malaria and typhoid, allowing the virus to spread undetected.

The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, has produced 4,200 confirmed cases and more than 1,900 deaths, according to government data. Unlike previous outbreaks, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this strain, and initial testing focused on the more common Ebola type, contributing to delays in detection.

Health workers in the remote, conflict-affected area face shortages of protective equipment, unpaid staff strikes, and threats from armed groups. Communities, many of whom have experienced prolonged trauma, are confronting misinformation about the disease, and displaced populations lack reliable water sources for hygiene.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the virus is spreading faster than response efforts, noting that new cases are doubling in some hotspots. He added that 60-70% of recent infections are occurring outside of monitored contacts, indicating an “alarming” transmission rate.

The situation is compounded by limited access to health services; some pregnant women and other patients are avoiding clinics out of fear of infection, further endangering public health.

"So we are chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us," Janabi said at the press conference.

"Ebola is spreading faster than efforts to fight it," Tedros posted on X after meeting officials in Kinshasa.

The outbreak is now the fastest-growing on record, surpassing the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic, which took eight months to reach 1,000 deaths.