An Ebola outbreak in Congo's Ituri province has sickened 246 people and killed 65, though only 13 cases are confirmed, the Africa CDC reported. The delayed announcement has raised alarms, as the virus was initially misidentified due to testing limitations. Early detection failures and urban spread in Bunia complicate containment efforts.

Health experts warn that eroded global surveillance, partly from aid cuts, allowed the outbreak to grow. The virus strain is not the Zaire species, for which a licensed vaccine exists, potentially hindering the response. Decades of violence and cross-border movement in Ituri further threaten regional spread.

This is Congo's 17th Ebola outbreak since 1976. While past outbreaks were contained through rapid response, the late detection and urban setting pose new challenges. The Africa CDC is coordinating with neighboring nations and global health agencies to mount a containment effort, learning from the 2014 West Africa epidemic's initial missteps.