Ebola Outbreak in Congo Outpaces Response; Most New Cases Unknown

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading faster than health workers can contain it. On Tuesday, the World Health Organization’s emergencies chief warned that the outbreak “continues to outpace the response efforts” after returning from a trip to one of the hardest-hit areas. A majority of new Ebola cases are now coming from unknown chains of infection. This means health officials cannot trace where patients caught the virus, making it difficult to stop further spread. Without clear links to known cases, containment becomes nearly impossible. The WHO official stressed that the current response is not enough to keep up with the virus. Health teams are struggling to track contacts, isolate patients, and vaccinate people in affected communities. The outbreak, which began last year, has already killed hundreds. International health groups are calling for more resources and better access to remote areas to slow the crisis.