WHO warns Ebola outbreak in DR Congo could become deadliest on record

GENEVA — The World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is on track to become the deadliest in recorded history. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the current rate of spread is more severe than the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic. Health teams are working to raise contact-tracing coverage from 80% to 95% to prevent the virus from reaching remote communities. The WHO said it plans to expand treatment capacity to 3,000 beds within three months and deploy additional medical personnel to affected areas. In the country's east, security challenges and cross-border movement have complicated contact tracking and containment efforts. Health authorities also said traditional home-care and burial practices continue to facilitate transmission of the virus. Ghebreyesus said controlling the outbreak requires the response to be carried out within communities themselves. No timeline for bringing the outbreak under control has been announced.