Epidemic (human)
Details
Event title
Congo DRC - DR Congo Ebola outbreak may have begun in February
Source
Main event
Event date (UTC)
2026-08-10 13:53:24
Last update (UTC)
2026-08-15 10:37:23
Severity
High
Area range
Multiple countries wide event
Address/Affected area(s)
Democratic Republlic of Congo
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) may have begun as early as February, months before it was officially declared in May, according to genetic sequencing studies, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) official said Monday.Speaking at a press conference in Bunia, capital of the eastern Ituri Province and the epicenter of the outbreak, WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Yakub Janabi said genetic sequencing indicated that the virus had likely been circulating for months before the outbreak was detected.The DRC officially declared outbreaks of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus on May 15.According to the latest figures released by local authorities, the DRC had recorded 4,209 confirmed cases, including 1,916 deaths, as of Aug. 7.