Ebola Could Become 'Deadliest Outbreak on Record', IRC Warns

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is sounding the alarm: the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could become the deadliest on record unless the world steps up now.

More than 900 suspected cases and 220 suspected deaths have been reported in the DRC. The virus has also crossed into Uganda, where seven cases and one death have been confirmed.

What makes this outbreak especially dangerous is the culprit: the rare Bundibugyo strain. Unlike the Zaire strain seen in previous outbreaks, there is no proven vaccine for Bundibugyo.

The IRC warns that conflict and aid cuts have left eastern DRC more fragile and less prepared than during the 2018-2020 outbreak that killed over 2,000 people. Bob Kitchen, the IRC’s vice president of Emergencies, said: "The warning signs are flashing red."

Last week, three Red Cross volunteers in Ituri Province died from suspected Ebola while handling bodies.

Ebola, first identified in 1976, causes fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes fatal bleeding.