What if the Ebola outbreak in Congo didn’t actually start when officials said it did?

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo variant, has killed more than 3,000 people so far. But here's where it gets interesting: Evidence from the WHO, Africa CDC, US CDC and Red Cross suggests the virus may have been circulating weeks, or even months, before it was officially detected.

The first case later identified retrospectively was a healthcare worker in Mongbwalu, Ituri Province. They developed Ebola-like symptoms around April 24 or 25 and later died in Bunia. But the WHO wasn't alerted to an unknown disease causing unusually high numbers of deaths until May 5.

Then, 10 days later, laboratory tests in Kinshasa confirmed Ebola. Africa CDC later warned that almost four weeks had passed between the first symptoms and laboratory detection — giving the virus time to spread before containment measures were in place.