WHO: DR Congo's Ebola outbreak spread for three months before official declaration

WHO says DR Congo's Ebola outbreak began circulating in February 2026 but wasn't declared until 15 May, after early cases were misdiagnosed as malaria or typhoid. The Bundibugyo species has no approved vaccine. With 4,294 cases and 1,960 deaths recorded by 7 August, WHO Africa director Dr Mohamed Janabi warned: "We are chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us."