International News: World Health Organization warns 2026 Ebola outbreak could become deadliest on record

By Zoila Palma:  The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is on track to become the deadliest outbreak of the disease ever recorded, according to World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Tedros warned that, at its current pace, the outbreak could surpass the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic, which killed at least 11,000 people. The 2026 outbreak was officially declared on May 15 and has so far recorded at least 4,300 cases and more than 2,000 deaths. However, health officials believe transmission began months earlier, with evidence suggesting the virus started spreading in February and was initially mistaken for illnesses such as malaria and typhoid, BBC reports. WHO officials say they hope to bring transmission under control within three months, although that would not necessarily mean the outbreak has ended. WHO Africa Director Dr. Mohamed Janabi said health workers are currently reaching only about 30% of cases, with ongoing instability in eastern DRC making surveillance, treatment and containment efforts more difficult. The outbreak is being caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which has previously been responsible for only two known outbreaks, in 2007 and 2012. The post International News: World Health Organization warns 2026 Ebola outbreak could become deadliest on record appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.