DR Congo Ebola outbreak could become deadliest on record, WHO warns

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is on track to surpass the deadliest in history, the World Health Organization said, with more than 2,000 deaths recorded. The head of the WHO warned it could eclipse the 2014-2016 West African outbreak that killed over 11,000 people. The outbreak, declared on May 15 but traced back to February, has reported over 4,300 cases in eastern Congo. It is driven by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccines or treatments, and is spreading faster than containment efforts in a conflict-affected region with poor infrastructure. Health workers face strikes and misinformation, while WHO expects the peak in six months under a moderate scenario, though it could last up to a year. Clinical trials for treatments and vaccines began last month, and a study suggests the virus jumped from an animal to a person.