An unidentified illness has claimed the lives of more than 50 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within hours of symptom onset, prompting urgent investigations by local health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak, which began on January 21 in the northwestern part of the country, has led to 419 recorded cases, with 53 confirmed fatalities. Medical professionals, including Dr. Serge Ngalebato, director of Bikoro Hospital, have described the situation as “really worrying,” citing the rapid progression of symptoms and the short interval typically 48 hours between the onset of illness and death.
Initial reports indicate that the first cases were detected in the town of Boloko, where three children who consumed a bat succumbed to hemorrhagic fever-like symptoms. The outbreak has since spread, with a second wave reported in the town of Bomate on February 9. Samples from 13 affected individuals have been sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa for testing. Preliminary tests have ruled out new Ebola and other common hemorrhagic fevers, such as Marburg, though some patients tested positive for malaria.
Despite these findings, health experts remain cautious as they work to determine the nature of the illness and its potential source. The WHO has noted that outbreaks of unknown diseases have increased by more than 60% across Africa in the past decade, largely attributed to zoonotic transmission, where diseases jump from animals to humans. The practice of consuming wild animals, particularly bats, has been linked to previous outbreaks of deadly viruses.
Authorities in the DRC, which is already grappling with an mpox outbreak and ongoing conflict with rebel forces, are closely monitoring the situation. The government, in coordination with the WHO and other international health agencies, is deploying response teams to affected regions to contain the spread and provide medical assistance. With the cause of the illness yet to be identified, health officials are urging caution while awaiting further laboratory results. – By MENA Newswire News Desk.