In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a mystery disease has announced the lives of over fifty people within hours of the onset of symptoms.
A Mysterious Illness Grips the DRC: Death Strikes Within 48 Hours
Health authorities, including the World Health Organization and medical experts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are sounding the alarm over a fast-moving and deadly outbreak. Most patients are succumbing to the illness within just 48 hours of showing symptoms.
As of Monday, 419 cases have been reported, with 53 confirmed deaths. Particularly alarming is one hotspot where the fatality rate has soared—claiming the lives of nearly two-thirds of those infected. Officials are calling it an “abnormally high fatality rate,” intensifying global concern over this still-unidentified disease.
Rising Alarms in the DRC: Outbreaks Erupt in Two Key Regions
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that recent outbreaks have emerged in two health zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo—Bolomba and Basankusu.
In the Basankusu region alone, 45 people have died out of the 419 reported cases, adding to growing concerns among global health experts. Many fear a connection to hemorrhagic fevers, which are most dramatically associated with the deadly Ebola virus.
Adding fuel to the fire, medical professionals have voiced serious concern that cuts to the CDC under former President Donald Trump—including a purge of key personnel and a ban on WHO collaboration—have weakened the world’s defenses against such crises, both at home and abroad.
The WHO has also highlighted a troubling trend: over the last decade, outbreaks of zoonotic diseases—those that jump from animals to humans, often through consumption—have surged by more than 60% across Africa. This alarming spike is a wake-up call for global preparedness in the face of future pandemics.
Mystery Illness Deepens in the DRC: Malaria Ruled In, Ebola Ruled Out
Although some patients tested positive for malaria, all samples have tested negative for Ebola, Marburg, and other known hemorrhagic fevers—leaving health officials increasingly concerned about the unidentified illness sweeping through parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Authorities warn that the country’s fragile healthcare infrastructure and the outbreaks’ remote locations are a dangerous combination, significantly increasing the risk of unchecked spread. “This situation demands immediate, high-level intervention,” officials stressed.
Despite the rising death toll and mounting uncertainty, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told DailyMail.com that the risk of international transmission remains “low” at this time.
Dr. Stephanie Psaki Warns of Potential Gateway for Deadly Viruses Into the U.S.
Dr. Stephanie Psaki, sister of former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, has raised a red flag over the growing outbreak in the DRC—warning that it could become a launching point for deadly viruses like Ebola and Marburg to reach the United States.
“There is no vaccine, no cure for Marburg,” she emphasized, describing the virus’s gruesome symptoms, including severe bleeding from the eyes, ears, and mouth. “The only real hope of protecting Americans is to stop it at the source—before it crosses borders.”
Her remarks underscore the urgent need for international containment efforts, as fears grow that weakened global health coordination may be opening the door for a larger crisis.
