WHO warns DR Congo Ebola outbreak could become deadliest on record
The World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could surpass previous outbreaks in mortality if it continues at its current pace.
In short
- The World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could surpass previous outbreaks in mortality if it continues at its current pace.
The World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could become the deadliest on record if it continues at its current pace.
The warning, reported on August 12, 2026, underscores the seriousness of the developing public-health emergency. The WHO chief said the outbreak could eclipse the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic under its present trajectory.
The assessment is a projection rather than a declaration that the current outbreak has already reached that scale. Further official updates will be needed to establish the case count, deaths, geographic spread and the course of the response.
