# Record-breaking Ebola outbreak: phone data reconstruct first weeks of spread

Source: [nature.com](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03666-z) · 2026-11-12 · Life
Page: https://themorning.science/story/record-breaking-ebola-outbreak-phone-data-reconstruct-first-weeks-of-spread-d52848ec64093493
Kind: research · Impact: high

## In brief

- The Bundibugyo Ebola virus strain circulated for weeks before it was detected in May.
- Researchers used phone data to reconstruct the first weeks of the outbreak's spread.
- The outbreak was missed because of surveillance failures, testing gaps and funding cuts, according to the researchers.

## Why it matters

The study shows how gaps in surveillance and testing can let a record-breaking outbreak spread for weeks before detection, and that mobile phone data can help reconstruct early transmission.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-12: Nature publishes study reconstructing early spread of the record-breaking Ebola outbreak from phone data

## Coverage

- [Record-breaking Ebola outbreak: phone data reconstruct first weeks of spread](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-03666-z) — nature.com, 2026-11-12

Tags: ebola, outbreaks, epidemiology, public health, mobile phone data, surveillance

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Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Science – https://themorning.science