DRC Ebola outbreak could have begun as early as January, WHO chief says

Doctors monitor a patient at an Ebola treatment centre run by Médecins Sans Frontières in Munigi, eastern DRC. Photograph: Jospin Mwisha/AFP/Getty Images

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could have begun as early as January, the head of the World Health Organization said, giving the virus “a big head start”.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also said the response was being hindered by blanket travel restrictions and highlighted high levels of community mistrust and low levels of contact tracing as key concerns.