A mysterious illness has claimed at least 53 lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since an outbreak began on January 21, health officials report. The disease, which has affected over 400 people, leads to death within 48 hours in most cases, raising serious concerns.
The outbreak was first detected in Boloko, where three children reportedly died after eating a bat. A second outbreak began in Bomate on February 9. Samples tested so far have ruled out Ebola and Marburg, though some cases tested positive for malaria.
The World Health Organization and local authorities are investigating, as the country also battles an mpox outbreak and ongoing conflict. Experts warn that animal-to-human disease transmission is an increasing threat in Africa.
