The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is racing to trace contacts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the number of suspected Ebola cases rises. WHO reports that there are currently 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths. The organization warns that these figures are likely to increase because of the time the virus may have been circulating before the outbreak in the region—linked to detections in Congo and Uganda—was identified.
Both outlets describe the same WHO update, emphasizing the expected growth in the suspected case count and the ongoing need for rapid epidemiological work, including identifying and monitoring people who may have been exposed. The reported numbers are described as “suspected,” reflecting the stage of investigation and confirmation rather than final case counts.
The WHO message underscores the challenge of responding to outbreaks after delayed detection and the importance of tracing and verification to guide public health actions and determine the scale of the outbreak.
