Congo's Ebola outbreak may soon become deadliest ever, WHO warns
The World Health Organization warned Wednesday that Congo's ongoing Ebola outbreak is on track to surpass the deadliest one in history, the 2014-2016 West African epidemic that killed over 11,000 people. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the current pace could eclipse that outbreak. The outbreak in eastern Congo has killed over 2,000 people out of more than 4,300 cases, making it the fastest-growing yet. Declared on May 15, it actually began in February, and involves the rare Bundibugyo virus with no approved vaccines or treatments. Experts say the outbreak is outpacing response efforts due to conflict, poor infrastructure, and misinformation in remote communities. WHO expects the peak in six months, though it could last up to a year. Two vaccines for this virus type are now being tested in humans.