Ebola outbreak moving faster than the response, Africa CDC head warns

The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that the Ebola outbreak under way in the Democratic Republic of Congo is outpacing the international response. Officials say the current spread of the disease is making it increasingly difficult to contain with existing resources.

Health officials say the outbreak's reach into rural and hard-to-access areas is complicating case tracking and contact tracing. Health workers are contending both with the risk posed by the virus itself and with misinformation circulating in some communities, which has fuelled mistrust of response teams.

Africa CDC is calling on international donors for urgent additional funding and logistical support. Officials warn that without decisive action now, the outbreak could impose a far higher humanitarian and economic toll in the months ahead.