We are chasing Ebola virus - it is ahead of us, WHO warns

What the report says

The World Health Organization says the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo began at least three months before it was officially declared, leaving health teams behind the spread of the virus. BBC Africa reports that WHO Africa director Dr Mohamed Janabi described the situation in Bunia, in the east of the country, as one where authorities are still “chasing” the virus. He said research suggests transmission started in February and that early cases were mistaken for illnesses such as malaria or typhoid.

According to the article, the outbreak is affecting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola and has been especially hard to control in eastern DR Congo, where insecurity has disrupted response efforts. The BBC said more than 1,900 people have died since the declaration on 15 May, with the health ministry putting the tally at 4,294 confirmed cases and 1,960 deaths. Janabi also said health workers are reaching only about 30% of cases, with many patients dying at home.

The report says there is no approved vaccine or recognised treatment for the Bundibugyo variant, making containment more difficult. Traditional burial practices and mistrust of health authorities have further complicated the response, although dedicated treatment centres are now operating and diagnosis is happening faster. The outbreak is being described as the second-worst on record, behind the West Africa epidemic of 2014-16, underlining the scale of the challenge for Congo and international health agencies.