Health 13 August 2026 Nile Post
WHO Warns of Record-Breaking Ebola Outbreak in DRC
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is on track to become the deadliest in history, potentially surpassing the 2014-2016 epidemic. The unique strain of the virus presents significant challenges to containment efforts. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/363120/ebola-outbreak-on-track-to-be-deadliest-ever-who-chief-says
The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has expressed grave concern that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could become the most devastating recorded. At its current rate, the 2026 outbreak is projected to surpass the scale of the 2014-2016 epidemic, which tragically claimed at least 11,000 lives.
Declared on May 15th, the current outbreak has already resulted in over 4,300 cases and more than 2,000 deaths. The WHO has set a target to reverse the spread of the disease within three months, though this aims to control transmission rather than completely end the outbreak.
Health officials believe the epidemic began as early as February, predating its official declaration, with initial cases possibly misdiagnosed as malaria or typhoid. “We are chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us,” stated Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Africa Director, highlighting the difficulties in containing the spread.
This particular outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which no approved vaccine or recognized therapeutic drugs currently exist. Compounding these challenges is regional instability in eastern DRC, hindering health workers’ access and limiting their reach to only about 30% of potential cases.
Ebola, a severe viral illness, typically manifests with flu-like symptoms such as fever and headache within 2 to 21 days of infection, progressing to more severe symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and organ failure. It spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids.
Amidst these concerns, there is a glimmer of hope. The UK’s medicines regulator has approved the first human trials for a new vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain, developed by the University of Oxford using technology similar to the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, the WHO is supporting trials for two existing antiviral therapies in the DRC to assess their effectiveness in improving survival rates.
This information is based on reporting from Nile Post.