The World Health Organisation has spoken out after at least 431 cases were recorded since January
A mysterious illness has claimed the lives of dozens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, sparking widespread concern.
As of February 15, reports confirmed that 53 people had died in the country’s northwestern Équateur Province, with some victims succumbing to the illness within just 48 hours of showing symptoms. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms, noting that since January, over 400 cases have been reported, with individuals suffering from fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, headaches, and extreme fatigue. The WHO has warned that the unidentified disease poses a significant public health threat.
The WHO issued a bulletin on February 16, stating: “The exact cause of the disease remains unknown, though both Ebola and Marburg have been ruled out. This raises concerns that a severe infectious or toxic agent may be at play.”
The organization highlighted several key challenges, including the rapid progression of the disease. In some affected areas, nearly half of the fatalities occurred within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. The WHO also noted an alarmingly high case fatality rate in certain regions.
The organization emphasized the urgency of accelerating laboratory investigations, improving case management and isolation capabilities, and strengthening surveillance and communication efforts. Additionally, the remote location and fragile healthcare infrastructure exacerbate the risk of further spread, underscoring the need for immediate, high-level intervention to contain the outbreak.
The outbreak has primarily impacted two communities in the Équateur Province—Bomate and Boloko.
The first cases in Bomate Village were reported to provincial health authorities on February 9, while the cluster of cases in Boloko was first identified on January 21.
Investigations have traced the origin of the disease to the deaths of three children under five years old in the community. It is believed that these children consumed a bat carcass before exhibiting the first signs and symptoms of the illness, raising concerns about a potential zoonotic transmission.
Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, discussed the possibility of the disease being a new virus, stating: “While a genuinely new illness, like COVID-19, can occur, it is very rare. Typically, it’s a known pathogen that hasn’t yet been diagnosed in a specific outbreak.”
To identify the cause of the illness, the World Health Organization (WHO) is conducting metagenomic sequencing and other investigations. These efforts are focused on uncovering the origins of the illness and the deaths occurring in the affected Bolomba and Basankusu Health Zones, where the outbreaks in the two villages are centered.
