Ebola Outbreak in Congo Could Become Deadliest on Record, WHO Warns

The Ebola outbreak spreading across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is raising serious concerns, with the World Health Organization (WHO) warning that it could become the deadliest Ebola outbreak ever recorded if the virus continues to spread at its current pace.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that the 2026 outbreak could potentially surpass the devastating 2014–16 West Africa outbreak, which claimed the lives of around 11,000 people.

The outbreak was officially declared on May 15, 2026. More than 4,300 cases have been reported so far, with over 2,000 deaths linked to the virus.

WHO said on Wednesday that it hopes to bring the transmission of the virus under control within the next three months. However, this does not necessarily mean the outbreak will be completely over. The immediate goal is to stop sustained transmission and prevent the virus from continuing to spread.

Health officials say the outbreak actually began in February, but some of the initial cases were reportedly mistaken for malaria or typhoid. The delayed recognition of Ebola allowed the virus more time to circulate before the outbreak was officially identified.

Authorities are now working to strengthen surveillance, identify new cases quickly and trace contacts in an effort to break chains of transmission.

The situation remains a major public-health challenge, and officials are urging communities to remain vigilant as efforts continue to contain the outbreak.