Congo's Ebola outbreak could become deadliest on record, WHO warns

euronews.com

The World Health Organization warns the Ebola outbreak in Congo is on track to surpass the deadliest in history, the 2014-2016 West African epidemic that killed over 11,000 people. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the statement Wednesday. The current outbreak has killed over 2,000 people from more than 4,300 cases. It was declared on May 15 but began in February, and the rare Bundibugyo virus has no approved vaccines or treatments. The outbreak is spreading faster than control efforts in a conflict-affected region near South Sudan, Uganda, and Rwanda. WHO expects the peak in six months, with a worst-case scenario lasting up to 12 months. Two vaccines for this virus type are being tested in people for the first time, and a study published Monday confirmed the outbreak originated from an animal-to-human transmission.


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