The NYT learned about the ignoring of the Ebola outbreak by the authorities of the DR Congo

Ebola spread across the Democratic Republic of the Congo for several weeks before local authorities began to take action, writes The New York Times.

"Shortly after the outbreak was announced, the World Health Organization designated it a global health emergency. But by that time, the virus had already been circulating for several weeks," the article says.

Despite the fact that epidemiological surveillance systems are in place in DR Congo, designed to detect disease outbreaks early, and several new laboratories were previously established, precious time was lost, the article notes. Officials in Ituri Province, which is at the epicenter of the new outbreak, did not raise the alarm when patients began to show symptoms.

"The warning was issued very late," said Marie—Roseline Belizeur, a doctor and epidemiologist who heads the World Health Organization's work to combat the outbreak.

This time, it took several weeks before medical workers knew with certainty that they were dealing with an outbreak of Ebola, the newspaper writes. According to the author of the article, the consequences of "such a long delay can be catastrophic."

WHO has declared the Ebola outbreak in Africa an emergency of international importance. What you need to know

Earlier in the day, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the level at which Ebola is spreading is a matter of concern.

Representatives of Rospotrebnadzor reported on May 17 that there is currently no risk of Ebola spreading in Russia. It was noted that specialists are monitoring the epidemiological situation around the clock, and enhanced sanitary and quarantine control is in effect at all checkpoints.

On May 15, WHO declared the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda an international emergency. The organization points to significant uncertainty about the actual number of cases and the extent of the spread of the virus.