Ebola outbreak surges to third‑largest on record, WHO warns rapid spread

The World Health Organization confirmed Friday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province has exploded to ↑ 750 suspected cases and ↓ 177 deaths, with roughly 1,400 contacts under surveillance.

Ebola outbreak now third largest recorded

First reported on May 15, the flare‑up has already become the third‑largest ever documented, according to Reuters. WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned in a

“the outbreak is still spreading rapidly”

that the situation remains volatile.

Risk assessment upgraded

The agency lifted the national risk rating from “high” to “very high,” while regional risk stays “high” and global risk is deemed “low.” Officials admitted a lag in detection allowed the virus to gain momentum, and teams are now racing to outpace transmission. Contact tracing efforts are intensifying, with health workers deploying resources across remote villages. For ongoing updates see AP News.