The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo began in February, several months before it was officially declared, Africanews reported, citing World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Janabi. Genetic sequencing of the virus made it possible to establish when the outbreak began, he said. The initial cases were mistakenly diagnosed as malaria, typhoid fever or infection with a more common type of Ebola virus. The Ebola outbreak in DR Congo was announced on May 15. During the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa, the deadliest by number of victims, the death toll reached 1,000 about eight months after the outbreak began.