WHO warns DR Congo Ebola outbreak may become worst in history
The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General warned today that the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is advancing so rapidly it could become the worst in history. He stated it is already the second worst on record and may surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak. The WHO chief expressed concern over the current figures of about 4,400 cases and over 2,000 deaths, noting the outbreak is "far ahead" of response efforts. He highlighted that many deaths occur outside treatment centers, indicating unknown transmission chains, with contact tracing currently at only 80% against a 95% target. Two vaccines against the Bundibugyo strain are in phase 1 human trials and have proven safe, though development may take months. The current outbreak, declared on May 15 in Ituri province, remains smaller than the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic, which caused about 11,000 deaths and 28,000 infections.