KINSHASA, Aug 11 – The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) began in February, months before it was officially declared in May, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi said on Monday that virus sequencing showed the outbreak had started earlier than initially known adding that some of the earlier cases were mistaken for malaria and typhoid.
Government figures show that confirmed Ebola cases have reached 4,200, including at least 1,900 deaths.
The outbreak is unusual because it involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. Early testing focused on the more common Ebola strain, which also contributed to delays.
Health workers are facing difficult conditions, including unpaid staff, shortages of protective equipment and insecurity linked to rebel groups. Some communities have also been affected by misinformation about the disease.
The WHO said the outbreak is spreading faster than efforts to contain it, with new cases doubling in some hotspots.
Meanwhile, WHO experts have recommended full-scale human trials of the Ervebo vaccine, which is licensed for the more common Zaire strain. Early data suggests it may also offer some protection against the Bundibugyo strain.
Experts say a vaccine specifically designed for the Bundibugyo strain would be the preferred option. Two possible vaccines are already in early human trials, while work on a third is ongoing.
The current outbreak has spread faster than previous Ebola outbreaks. During the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, it took about eight months to reach 1,000 deaths.
