A mysterious illness has claimed the lives of over 50 individuals in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) within the past five weeks.
The incident has sparked widespread concern among health officials.
The outbreak began on January 21 in the village of Boloko, following the deaths of three children who consumed a bat.
As of the time of publishing, a total of 419 cases and 53 deaths have been reported.
Symptoms of the illness include fever, vomiting, and internal bleeding, with a rapid progression to death within 48 hours in many cases.
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These symptoms are commonly associated with hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, dengue, Marburg, and yellow fever.
However, tests conducted on more than a dozen samples have ruled out these diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the need for enhanced laboratory investigations, patient care, isolation, and surveillance to control the outbreak.
“The exact cause remains unknown, with Ebola and Marburg already ruled out, raising concerns about a severe infectious or toxic agent,”said on the WHO website.
The WHO has noted a more than 60 per cent rise in such outbreaks in the last ten years.
Former AFP and Politico journalist Emmet Livingstone told The Briefing podcast that the media coverage of the situation in Congo has been insufficient.
“Congo plays an extremely important role, be it climate change, be it the energy transition or what have you,” Livingstone said.
As investigations continue, health authorities are urging the public to avoid consuming wild animals and to seek medical attention promptly if they experience symptoms.
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