• A mysterious illness has killed at least 53 people in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo, prompting urgent investigations by health officials. The outbreak began in January and has spread rapidly across multiple villages with symptoms including fever, vomiting and nosebleeds.
• Tests have ruled out Ebola and Marburg, but some samples tested positive for malaria. Further investigations remain ongoing to determine the cause.
• The World Health Organization has called for immediate intervention, citing concerns over the rapid spread and high death rate, with 431 cases reported and a 12.3% fatality rate.

Full Story

A mysterious illness has killed at least 53 people in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo, prompting urgent investigations by health officials. The outbreak, which began in January, has spread rapidly across multiple villages.

The symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, nosebleeds and fatigue. In many cases, death has occurred within 48 hours of symptoms appearing.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

Where did the outbreak begin?

Health officials traced the illness to the village of Boloko, where three children under five died shortly after eating a bat.

The outbreak then spread to nearby Danda before a larger cluster emerged in Bomate, where more than 400 people have fallen ill.

What do officials know about the disease?

The World Health Organization (WHO) described the outbreak as a “significant public health threat.”

Tests conducted at the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, have ruled out common hemorrhagic fever diseases such as Ebola and Marburg. However, some samples tested positive for malaria, and experts have not determined whether malaria is the cause of the outbreak.

WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević said investigations remain ongoing.

“We are looking into whether it is another infection or whether it is some toxic agent,” Jašarević said Tuesday, Feb. 25. “We have to see what can be done and at what point WHO can support.”

How fast is the disease spreading?

Since Jan. 21, WHO has received notice of at least 431 reported cases, with a fatality rate of 12.3%. The rapid spread and high death rate have alarmed health officials.

Health experts warned that weak healthcare infrastructure and the remote location of affected areas could worsen the crisis.

WHO has called for immediate intervention to contain the outbreak, citing concerns over its progression.

“Key challenges include the rapid progression of the disease, with nearly half the deaths occurring within 48 hours of symptom onset, and an exceptionally high case fatality rate in one of the affected health zones,” WHO said in a statement.

Are bat-related diseases becoming more common?

The illness raises concerns about zoonotic diseases—illnesses that jump from animals to humans. Such outbreaks have surged by more than 60% in the past decade, according to WHO.

Researchers linked similar cases to eating wild animals in previous outbreaks, including Ebola and Marburg.

Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Sign up for the newsletter today!

Learn more about our emails. Unsubscribe anytime.

Enter your email for newsletter updates Subscribe

By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.

What’s next in the investigation?

Health officials continue to conduct further tests to determine if a known virus, bacteria or toxic agent has caused the illness.

Investigators also consider factors such as contaminated food or water supplies.

Meanwhile, WHO and Congo’s health ministry have deployed resources to affected areas, emphasizing the need for increased surveillance, improved case management and better communication to prevent further spread.