Congo's Ebola epidemic may have gone unnoticed 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: The Congolese authorities did not respond in the best possible way . Several international organizations have highlighted 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.