Ebola Death Toll Edges Closer to 140 as Cases Surge Past 600

The World Health Organization warns the numbers will keep climbing with over 600 suspected infections already reported across Central and East Africa.

WHO Sounds the Alarm on Rising Ebola Deaths

The suspected death toll from the Ebola fever outbreak has climbed to 139. The number of infected people has now crossed the 600 mark. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made this alarming announcement on Wednesday.

“As of today, WHO has been notified of more than 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths from Ebola. We expect this number to keep rising,” he said at a press conference in Geneva.

Also Read | Trump Raises Alarm Over Ebola Outbreak in Africa

WHO Declares International Health Emergency

On Sunday, the World Health Organization officially declared the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain a public health emergency of international concern. The outbreak spans both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

The Bundibugyo strain is one of the rarer Ebola variants. It has historically shown lower fatality rates than other strains but health officials remain deeply worried.

Also Read | WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in Congo and Uganda a Global Health Emergency