KINSHASA, Congo: A rapidly spreading mystery illness in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 50 people over the past five weeks causing widespread concern among health experts.
The disease, which was first detected in three children who ate a bat, has since spread to other areas infecting at least 419 people and causing 53 deaths, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The symptoms of the illness include fever, vomiting, internal bleeding, and rapid deterioration, with most victims succumbing to the disease within 48 hours of the first signs of the disease.
“The rapid progression of symptoms is particularly alarming,” said Serge Ngalebato, medical director at Bikoro Hospital, the regional monitoring centre. “The fact that so many people are dying so quickly is very concerning.”
Although the symptoms resemble those of known haemorrhagic fevers like Ebola, Marburg, and yellow fever, the WHO has ruled out these diseases after conducting laboratory tests on over a dozen samples.
Consequently, health officials are considering the possibility of a new, unidentified virus or pathogen. The illness has already spread beyond Boloko, the initial outbreak site, reaching neighbouring villages such as Bomate, where a new wave of cases was reported on February 9.
The initial cluster of cases in Boloko village occurred after three children consumed bat meat, resulting in their deaths within 48 hours.
The WHO has raised concerns about zoonotic diseases—those transmitted from animals to humans—which pose a significant risk in the region due to the consumption of wild animals.
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There has been a concerning rise in zoonotic outbreaks across sub-Saharan Africa in recent years, with the WHO reporting a more than 60% increase in such incidents over the past decade.
Health officials are now working urgently to trace the source of the outbreak and prevent further spread.
On Tuesday, the WHO confirmed that samples from 13 additional suspected cases have been sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa, Congo’s capital, for testing.
Officials have also issued warnings to local communities about the risks of consuming wild animals, particularly bats, which are known carriers of various viruses, including Ebola and the coronavirus. The government has deployed emergency teams to support quarantine efforts and provide medical assistance in the affected areas.
