WHO Warns Congo Ebola Is on Track to Be Deadliest Ever
The World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is on track to become the deadliest on record, with the United Nations saying it is killing roughly one person every 30 minutes. The virus has spread to a sixth province, with more than 2,000 deaths reported. The WHO and Britain have announced a stepped-up response.
The spread to a sixth province signals that containment is losing ground, and the WHO’s director-general has cautioned the epidemic could surpass the West African outbreak of 2014 to 2016, which killed more than 11,000. Effective vaccines exist this time, but reaching remote and insecure areas to deploy them is a formidable task in a region scarred by conflict, displacement and mistrust of outsiders, and aid agencies warn responders lack the resources they need. The extra support pledged by London and the WHO reflects the danger of the virus crossing borders or reaching crowded cities. The coming weeks will test whether the tide can be turned. Watch whether the stepped-up effort slows the spread.