The World Health Organization announced on Monday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo actually began months before it was officially declared.
Speaking at a news conference in Bunia, representatives from the global health agency disclosed that the situation has rapidly escalated. The crisis is now classified as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded.
Why It Matters
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has battled numerous outbreaks of Ebola since the virus was first identified near the Ebola River in 1976. Containing the highly contagious hemorrhagic fever in the region is historically challenging due to ongoing armed conflict, political instability, and community mistrust of health workers. When detection is delayed, health workers face immense difficulties in tracing contacts and administering vaccines to halt transmission before the virus spreads to major population centers.
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