Fifty-three people have died from a mysterious disease that is affecting residents in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The disease emerged after three children ate a bat, and health experts are now significantly concerned. In five weeks, the illness claimed the lives of over 50 locals.
The death toll stands at 53 while 431 cases have been recorded, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Two outbreaks have been recorded in remote villages in the Equateur province.
The disease carries symptoms such as fever, vomiting, and internal bleeding. According to a report, most patients have died within 48 hours of onset. Health experts are extremely worried about the rapid progress of patients dying after showing symptoms of the illness. Serge Ngalebato, medical director of Bikoro Hospital, described the short interval between symptoms and death as alarming, per the report.
A spokesperson from the World Health Organisation stated that cases have risen rapidly within days following the outbreaks, which poses “a significant public health threat.”
“The exact cause remains unknown,” the spokesperson said. While WHO is investigating the illnesses, it faces challenges due to the remoteness of the villages and the limited healthcare infrastructure.
According to a report, scientists identified that “hemorrhagic fever” is one of the symptoms of the illness. The fever is commonly found in deadly diseases like Ebola, dengue, Marburg, and yellow fever.
Scientists tested more than a dozen samples and ruled out these viruses as the cause of the illness. Therefore, the exact origin and nature of the illness are still a mystery. A WHO spokesperson stated that they are trying to uncover whether the illness is another infection or some toxic agent.
The DRC has battled with many illnesses, the last being Disease X in 2024. This virus killed 143 people.
Zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that are transferred from animals to humans, have been on the rise, causing significant concern. These diseases have soared to 60% over the last decade, according to WHO.
According to a report, activities like biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and deforestation contribute to the increase in such outbreaks since humans come in close contact with wild animals and their pathogens.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), some regions engage in eating wild animals and bushmeat, and this, paired with the region’s weak healthcare infrastructure, increases the risks of zoonotic diseases and widespread outbreaks.