WHO chief warns Ebola outbreak in DRC is spreading faster than ever
The World Health Organisation chief has raised the alarm on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, calling it the second-largest on record and warning it is spreading faster than any previous outbreak. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking after a trip to the DRC, reported 4,449 confirmed cases and 2,061 deaths across five provinces and 53 health zones. He noted a high proportion of deaths occurring in communities without treatment centres, indicating unknown chains of transmission. The current outbreak, fuelled by the bundibugyo variant, is on track to surpass the 2014-2016 West African Ebola epidemic. Dr Tedros praised the country's president for his efforts but stressed that current measures are insufficient to stop the spread.