WHO Investigates Deadly Mystery Illness in Congo as Death Toll Rises
An unidentified disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed over 60 lives, with rapid transmission and a high fatality rate raising global health concerns.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating a mystery illness in northern Congo's Equateur Province, which has killed more than 60 people in recent weeks.
- The disease, suspected to be a viral hemorrhagic fever, progresses rapidly, with nearly half of deaths occurring within 48 hours of symptom onset.
- Initial cases were linked to children who consumed a bat, a known carrier of zoonotic viruses, but the exact cause and transmission method remain unidentified.
- The outbreak's remoteness, weak healthcare infrastructure, and ongoing armed conflict in other parts of the country complicate containment and response efforts.
- WHO teams are conducting tests to rule out diseases like Ebola and Marburg, while increasing surveillance and treatment for other illnesses such as malaria and meningitis.
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