A mysterious and deadly illness is sweeping through the Democratic Republic of Congo, Over 400 cases have been recorded since the outbreak in January, with most deaths occurring within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Leaving a trail of devastation and despair in its wake. With the death toll already surpassing 50, health officials are racing against time to identify the cause of the outbreak and contain its spread. As the situation continues to deteriorate, concerns are growing about the potential for a wider public health crisis, highlighting the urgent need for international support and cooperation to combat this emerging threat.

Doctors in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) report that over 50 people have died from an unidentified illness.

According to reports in the Skynews, The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Africa office said the first outbreak was discovered in the town of Boloko, in the northwest of the country.

Three children are reported to have died in a suspected outbreak of haemorrhagic fever after consuming a bat. In most of these cases, death occurred within 48 hours of symptoms appearing.

“That’s what’s really worrying,” Serge Ngalebato, medical overseer of Bikoro Hospital, a regional monitoring center, explained to the news agency, The Associated Press.

The outbreak, which began on January 21st, has resulted in 419 reported cases and 53 deaths. A second outbreak of the unidentified illness occurred in Bomate on February 9th.

The WHO has confirmed that samples from 13 cases have been sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa for analysis.

While all samples tested negative for Ebola and other common hemorrhagic fevers such as Marburg, some tested positive for malaria.

Around last year, a mysterious flu-like illness that claimed dozens of lives in another region of Congo was believed to be malaria.