{
  "id": 920758,
  "title": "Congo Ebola outbreak on track to become deadliest in history",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/congo-ebola-outbreak-on-track-to-become-deadliest-in-history-920758",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-14T22:45:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PBS NewsHour",
    "slug": "pbs-newshour",
    "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/congo-ebola-outbreak-on-track-to-become-deadliest-in-history"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is rapidly escalating, with confirmed cases surpassing 4,500 and at least 2,100 deaths – a toll reached almost three times faster than a decade ago. William Brangham spoke with epidemiologist Dr. Anne Rimoin, director of UCLA's Center for Global Health Security, about the crisis. She explained that the outbreak is the fastest-growing ever recorded, echoing a previous outbreak that claimed over 11,000 lives a decade prior. Dr. Rimoin highlighted the Bundibugyo strain as a key factor, noting that there are no approved vaccines or treatments for this particular strain, which kills between a quarter and half of those infected. The medical system in Congo is severely strained, lacking personnel and protective gear, and is further complicated by fear and misinformation. Frontline health workers are protesting unpaid wages for months, risking their lives and those of their families. Insecurity, stemming from ongoing violence over Congo's valuable minerals, impedes medical care access, as 60-70% of Ebola deaths occur in communities where patients often reach hospitals too late or cannot receive care. The World Health Organization's director general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warns that the outbreak is moving faster than any previous Ebola outbreak.",
  "summary": "The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to worsen, with the number of confirmed cases climbing to over 4,600. At least 2,100 people have died, a death toll that was reached almost three times faster than the outbreak over a decade ago. William Brangham discussed the crisis with epidemiologist Dr. Anne Rimoin, director of the Center for Global Health Security at UCLA.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour Science",
        "title": "Congo Ebola outbreak on track to become deadliest in history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/congo-ebola-outbreak-on-track-to-become-deadliest-in-history-920395",
        "published": "2026-08-14T22:45:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Mothership",
        "title": "Current Ebola outbreak on track to be deadliest with 2,000 deaths recorded: WHO chief",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/current-ebola-outbreak-on-track-to-be-deadliest-with-2-000-deaths",
        "published": "2026-08-15T18:57:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "Ebola outbreak in DR Congo now deadliest in country's history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/ebola-outbreak-in-dr-congo-now-deadliest-in-countrys-history",
        "published": "2026-08-16T22:05:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "World : Dr Congo Ebola Outbreak Deadliest In History As Death Toll Rises To 2,300",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/world-dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-deadliest-in-history-as-death-toll",
        "published": "2026-08-16T22:44:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Ebola outbreak in DR Congo becomes deadliest in country’s history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/ebola-outbreak-in-dr-congo-becomes-deadliest-in-countrys-history",
        "published": "2026-08-16T23:17:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo becomes deadliest in country's history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ebola-outbreak-in-democratic-republic-of-congo-becomes-deadliest-in",
        "published": "2026-08-17T02:57:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "Ebola outbreak in Congo becomes deadliest in country’s history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ebola-outbreak-in-congo-becomes-deadliest-in-countrys-history",
        "published": "2026-08-17T03:26:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo becomes deadliest in country’s history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ebola-outbreak-in-democratic-republic-of-congo-becomes-deadliest-in-1407202",
        "published": "2026-08-17T03:26:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Moneyweb",
        "title": "Ebola outbreak becomes Congo’s deadliest as UN warns virus is ‘winning’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/ebola-outbreak-becomes-congos-deadliest-as-un-warns-virus-is-winning",
        "published": "2026-08-17T05:00:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Congo Ebola outbreak becomes deadliest in country's history as death toll reaches new peak",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/congo-ebola-outbreak-becomes-deadliest-in-countrys-history-as-death",
        "published": "2026-08-17T05:48:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}