WHO warns Congo Ebola outbreak could become the worst ever

So far, more than 2,000 people have died from the infection. A total of 4,300 cases have been confirmed. There is a risk that the epidemic will surpass the largest recorded Ebola outbreak to date, which claimed the lives of more than 11,000 people.

At the current rate, it is on track to surpass the Ebola outbreak in West Africa from 2014 to 2016, says WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The epidemic in Congo-Kinshasa, which began in February according to the latest WHO assessment, is considered the fastest-growing in history. It is different from most previous Ebola outbreaks because it is linked to the Bundibugyo variant of the virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment.

Experts say that the outbreak, especially in the eastern part of the country, is spreading faster than authorities can track and manage it.