Ebola cases pass 10,000 as deaths near 5,000
The outbreak, declared in May, is the largest in geographic scope and second only in death toll to previous records.
By Javier Cabrera ·
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has infected more than 10,000 people since it was declared in May. The latest figures from the DRC indicate the crisis has reached a scale that exceeds previous historical records in terms of geographic spread.
Health officials state that this outbreak has moved faster than any in history. It currently spans from Nigeria to Kenya, making it the largest by geographic scope. The death toll stands at nearly 5,000, which places it second only to the most deadly prior outbreak in terms of fatalities.
Children account for roughly one-third of those who have died in the current crisis. This high proportion of pediatric deaths underscores the severity of the impact on younger populations within the affected regions.
The situation arrives as voters in Israel finish counting ballots for their national election. Election officials expect to complete the final tallies by tomorrow afternoon. The race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot remains too close to declare a winner.
Record voter turnout has complicated the final counts. Netanyahu briefly pulled ahead in the early morning, reversing a lead Eisenkot held overnight. Neither candidate currently has a clear path to forming a majority coalition in parliament.
The leading candidate will have six weeks to assemble a governing coalition. This process often involves negotiations with defectors from the opposing camp. Eisenkot may gain support from Arab-led parties, though his team has shown hesitation due to mistrust following the attacks of October 7, 2023.
In the United States, the Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady at its meeting today. Consumer prices rose 3.7% in September compared to the previous year, a larger annual increase than the prior month. Investors anticipate the central bank will maintain its current stance ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
Midterm advertising spending has surpassed a record $11 billion, according to Ad Impact. An analysis found that candidates in four major Senate races spent more than $15 million on fundraising ads during the current cycle. President Trump has been campaigning in tight races in states including Texas, Mississippi, and Kansas.
Source: NPR
