Health officials fear the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa could be far larger than current figures show.
The World Health Organization has warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo may be spreading faster than initially believed.
WHO representative Dr Anne Ancia said investigations suggest the virus has already spread across borders and into additional provinces. Officials in DR Congo have reported more than 513 suspected cases and at least 131 deaths, while neighbouring Uganda has confirmed one death linked to the outbreak.
Researchers from the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis in London said the real number of infections could already exceed 1,000 due to under-detection. The current outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has no approved vaccine.
The outbreak began in DR Congo’s Ituri province, an area facing ongoing insecurity and population movement. Health authorities are now increasing border screenings and emergency response measures across the region, while several countries tighten surveillance to prevent further spread.
The WHO says early detection, isolation and public cooperation remain critical to containing the deadly virus.
