The World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is on track to surpass the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, which killed more than 11,000 people out of over 28,000 cases. The WHO head makes the comparison as the current outbreak continues, indicating it could reach higher total deaths than past major events.
Outlets also highlight that the outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo virus, which distinguishes it from many previous Ebola outbreaks. The Independent and Courthouse News note that there are no approved vaccines or treatments for Bundibugyo Ebola, underscoring ongoing challenges for care and prevention. Other reporting focuses more directly on the WHO’s projected death toll relative to the prior “deadliest” outbreak statistics.
While the outlets agree on the WHO warning and the comparative context, they differ in emphasis—some foreground the potential death toll threshold, while others stress the lack of approved medical countermeasures for the virus driving this outbreak.
