WHO: Ebola Death Toll May be 15K, Not 5K

The World Health Organization said the actual global Ebola death toll may be three times higher than current estimates. As of Oct. 19, at least 4,877 people had died of Ebola. However, the total number of fatalities may be closer to 15,000. According to WHO, the number of cases may be higher than reported by a factor of 1.5 in Guinea, 2 in Sierra Leone, and 2.5 in Liberia. Considering the death rate for Ebola is about 70 percent in these countries, the total casualties would hit about 15,000. Ebola has been successfully contained in Nigeria and Senegal, but it appears to be spreading toward Ivory Coast in Liberia and Guinea.