Ebola outbreak in drc: official figures may underrepresent true scale

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning regarding the ongoing Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Two months after the initial declaration of the outbreak, official figures released on July 15 indicate over 2,000 cases and 796 fatalities. However, the WHO suggests that the actual number of individuals infected could be two to four times higher than these reported statistics. This raises critical questions: What factors contribute to such a significant discrepancy? Why is this particular Ebola epidemic proving exceptionally challenging to control? Furthermore, can the recent launch of the first post-exposure prophylaxis clinical trial in Bunia this week offer a turning point in the fight against the virus?