KINSHASA, Congo – A mysterious illness has swept through northwestern Congo, claiming over 50 lives in a matter of weeks. Health officials and the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the outbreak on Monday, expressing concern over the rapid progression of symptoms, which have led to death within 48 hours in most cases.
“The interval between the onset of symptoms and death has been 48 hours in the majority of cases, and that’s what’s really worrying,” said Serge Ngalebato, medical director of Bikoro Hospital, one of the main monitoring centers tracking the outbreak.
The illness, which remains unidentified, was first recorded on January 21 in the town of Boloko. Since then, a total of 419 cases have been reported, with 53 confirmed deaths.
A Fast-Spreading and Lethal Outbreak
Health authorities say the first known cases involved three children in Boloko who fell ill after consuming a bat. All three died within 48 hours, exhibiting symptoms of hemorrhagic fever. While there is no official confirmation linking the illness to the bat consumption, the pattern of transmission has raised concerns about a potential zoonotic origin—meaning the disease may have jumped from animals to humans.
The outbreak did not remain isolated for long. On February 9, cases emerged in the town of Bomate, where another wave of infections began. Health officials quickly responded by collecting samples from 13 infected individuals, sending them to the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa for testing.
Eliminating Known Causes
Despite fears of another Ebola or Marburg virus outbreak—both of which are known to cause deadly hemorrhagic fevers—lab results have so far ruled out these common threats. Some of the tested individuals were found to have malaria, but it remains unclear whether malaria alone is responsible for the severity and rapid fatality of this outbreak.
Last year, a similar mystery illness killed dozens in a different region of Congo before it was later determined to be a severe strain of malaria. However, the high death rate and speed of deterioration in this new outbreak suggest that health officials may be dealing with something different and potentially more dangerous.
