Africa CDC cites delayed detection, diagnostic gaps as Ebola spreads in DRC
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention says delayed detection, diagnostic challenges, insecurity and community mistrust drove the rapid spread of Ebola in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Speaking during a webinar on Thursday, Africa CDC's head of emergency preparedness Yap Boum II said the outbreak involved the less-common Bundibugyo virus, which existing test kits in the region could not initially identify, allowing the disease to circulate undetected for almost five months before it was officially declared on 15 May. By then the virus had grown from eight cases in three health zones to more than 2,000 cases across 46 zones, later expanding to 63 zones in seven provinces - marking the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the DRC. Boum cited insecurity and limited access as major barriers to case finding, contact tracing and response team movement, while community mistrust further hampered control efforts, requiring stronger engagement and more community-based activities. He urged increased resources and political support to improve security, access and cooperation, stressing that responders need both funding and political backing to operate safely. Nigeria's health authorities have placed the country on high alert as cases rise in the DRC. With Nigeria on high alert, what concrete steps should health authorities take to improve early detection, strengthen diagnostic capacity for less common pathogens and build community trust ahead of any potential spread?