A mysterious illness has claimed the lives of more than 50 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to local doctors and global health authorities.
In most cases, victims succumbed to the illness within 48 hours of showing symptoms. “That’s what’s really worrying,” said Serge Ngalebato, medical director of Bikoro Hospital, a regional monitoring center, in an interview with The Associated Press.
The outbreak, which began on January 21 in the northwestern region of the DRC, has led to 419 reported cases, including 53 fatalities.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Africa office revealed that the first outbreak occurred in the town of Boloko, where three children ate a bat and died within two days, showing signs of hemorrhagic fever. This raises concerns about diseases jumping from animals to humans, particularly in regions where wild animal consumption is common.
Such outbreaks in Africa have increased by more than 60% over the last decade, according to WHO data from 2022. A second wave of the illness emerged in the town of Bomate on February 9.
Samples from 13 cases have been sent for testing at the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa. So far, tests have ruled out Ebola and other common hemorrhagic fever diseases, like Marburg. Some samples, however, have tested positive for malaria.
Last year, a similar mystery illness in another part of the DRC was identified as severe malaria after it killed dozens.
The DRC is also currently dealing with an mpox outbreak and ongoing conflict with Rwanda-backed rebels.