Congo's Ebola epidemic may have gone undetected for months

The Democratic Republic of Congo officially declared the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo variant on May 15. However, the first infections likely occurred much earlier.

Just how far back the start of the epidemic actually goes is still a matter of debate. But one thing is certain: Congolese authorities did not respond in the best possible way , with several international organizations highlighting delays in the initial response.

Congo is no stranger to crisis response. The country experiences Ebola outbreaks on a regular basis, and has in the past been praised for its expertise in combating the disease.

A good starting point for tracing the origins of the outbreak is the timeline provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

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According to their data, the first known case, identified retrospectively, was a health worker from Mongbwalu in northeastern Ituri Province. The person, sources said, developed symptoms characteristic of Ebola around April 24 or 25.

They died at a medical center in Bunia, the capital of Ituri. To date, 80% of all cases have been reported in the province.

It wasn't until May 5 that the WHO said it had been informed of "an unknown illness with high mortality reported in Mongbwalu Health Zone." The global health body then issued its first warning.