Infections of the Bundibugyo species of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have reached record highs and a majority of new cases are coming from "unknown chains of transmission", the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday.
Why this matters
- Third-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded.
- Most new infections come from unknown transmission chains.
- Virus has spread beyond the original outbreak area.
- Early detection and global support are critical.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva after returning from Bunia in eastern DRC's Ituri Province, at the heart of the outbreak, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of WHO 's Health Emergencies Programme, said that with close to 2,000 confirmed cases and more than 700 deaths across five provinces as of 11 July, the current outbreak is the third-largest ever.
"We've seen the fastest growth in a single month since the outbreak started and of all the Ebola outbreaks that we have managed," he said.
"Over the last few days, we've seen some of the highest numbers of new infections in a single day," Dr Ihekweazu added, including over 80 cases confirmed in 24 hours.
Known unknowns
Many of the newly reported deaths are people who died in their communities without ever reaching a health facility or receiving care - which is what the WHO official described as "the most alarming finding".
