The majority of Ebola virus cases in eastern Congo are from unknown chains of transmission, the World Health Organization’s emergencies chief said on Tuesday and warned that the outbreak “continues to outpace the response efforts.” Congo has been battling an outbreak of a rare type of Ebola since May, with no approved treatment or vaccine. The Africa Centre for Disease Control says it is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on the continent. “Perhaps the most alarming finding is that many of the newly reported deaths are people who died in their communities without ever reaching a health facility and without receiving care,” Chikwe Ihekweazu said after returning from Bunia, in Ituri province, one of the worst-hit cities. “And as of today, 80% of new cases are outside our contact lists and so are coming to us from unknown chains of transmission.” As of Monday, at least 1,926 people have been infected, of whom 702 have died, in three provinces in Congo from the rare Bundibugyo virus, Congolese authorities said. Cases have also been confirmed in neighboring Uganda.

Full report : Majority of new Ebola cases in eastern Congo are from unknown chains, as outbreak outpaces response.