WHO Warns: DRC Ebola Outbreak on Track to Become the Deadliest

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is on track to become the deadliest in history, according to warnings. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that if the 2026 outbreak continues at its current pace, it will surpass the 2014-2016 outbreak that claimed the lives of at least 11,000 people. Since the outbreak was declared on May 15 this year, at least 4,300 cases have been reported, with over 2,000 people losing their lives. The WHO announced that it hopes to reverse the spread of the virus within three months, but this does not mean the outbreak will be completely stopped; rather, it means the spread will be controlled. Speaking at a press conference near the outbreak's epicenter in Bunia, WHO Africa Director Dr. Mohamed Janabi said, "We are chasing the virus, but the virus is ahead of us." Janabi noted that research indicates the virus began spreading in February and was initially mistaken for malaria or typhoid. The 2026 outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo type of Ebola virus, which was previously seen only in 2007 and 2012. There is no approved vaccine or accepted treatment for this type of virus. The ongoing instability in the eastern DRC, where the outbreak is occurring, is complicating efforts to control the spread of the disease. Janabi reported that health workers have only been able to reach about 30% of the cases.