WHO says Congo Ebola outbreak began months before declaration as cases surge
The World Health Organization said Monday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo began in February, months before it was officially declared in mid-May. Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the WHO regional director for Africa, told a news conference in Bunia that genetic sequencing indicated the outbreak’s earlier start, with some initial cases misattributed to malaria and typhoid.
Confirmed cases have reached 4,200, including over 1,900 deaths, according to the latest government figures. The outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. Early testing focused on the more common Zaire strain, contributing to delays in detection. The WHO noted that between 60% and 70% of new cases are recorded outside of monitored contacts, and the outbreak is spreading at an “alarming” rate, according to Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
On Friday, WHO vaccine experts recommended a full-scale human trial of the Ervebo vaccine, which has proven safe and effective against the Zaire strain, to assess its potential cross-protection against the Bundibugyo strain. Dr. Paulin Mutombo Beya, deputy director at the Kinshasa School of Public Health, discussed the possibility in a France 24 interview, citing early data from animal trials suggesting partial efficacy .
The outbreak is unfolding under severe operational challenges, including strikes by unpaid health workers, threats from rebel groups, and misinformation in affected communities. Health teams face shortages of protective gear and difficult terrain, while displaced populations struggle with limited access to clean water for hygiene. The Bundibugyo strain’s lack of approved countermeasures has complicated response efforts, with Tedros stating last week that the virus is spreading faster than containment measures .
Meanwhile, Finland confirmed its first cases of African swine fever in wild boar, detected in Virolahti near the Russian border. The EU’s reference laboratory validated the findings, identifying the virus as part of genetic group 3, first reported in Ukraine in 2012 and since detected in multiple European countries. Finnish authorities said the route of introduction remains unconfirmed .
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