Unknown Illness in Democratic Republic of Congo Kills Over 50 People

An unknown, fast-acting illness has killed over 50 people in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to reports from CBS News and The Guardian.

The interval “between the onset of symptoms and death has been just 48 hours in the majority of cases.” The outbreak began on Jan. 21, and “419 cases had been recorded as of Monday,” Feb. 24. The first outbreak in the town of Boloko “began after three children ate a bat and died within 48 hours following hemorrhagic fever symptoms.”

Samples from cases have been sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa for testing. Thus far, “all samples have been negative for Ebola or other common hemorrhagic fever diseases like Marburg. Some tested positive for malaria.” Another mystery flu-like illness that broke out in another part of the country in 2024 was “determined to be likely malaria.”

A WHO spokesperson emphasized that the outbreaks, “which have seen cases rise rapidly within days, pose a significant public health threat.” Symptoms include fever and fatigue, progressing to hemorrhagic signs such as nosebleeds and vomiting blood.