At least 50 people have died in a mysterious illness outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This has prompted investigations to determine its causes and possible treatments. Three children in the village consumed a dead insect, which raised concerns about transmission from animal to human.
Why it Matters
According to WHO, the rapid spread of this disease outbreak poses a serious public health risk, requiring swift intervention to prevent the further spread of the illness and to stop the loss of lives.
You Should Know
In eastern DRC, local officials reported 43 deaths and 419 illnesses since 21 January. According to WHO Africa, the outbreak began in Boloko Village, where three of the victims were killed within 48 hours following the consumption of a bat.
Afterwards, the illness spread to Danda Village. This was followed by an outbreak that affected over 400 people in Bomate Village. Fever, vomiting diarrhea, headaches and fatigue are among the symptoms that have been reported. Its rapid progress is one of its most concerning characteristics. Death can occur within 48-hours of the onset of symptoms.
WHO has noticed a worrying trend. In the past 10 years, outbreaks of diseases that spread from wild animals to humans increased by 60%.
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Expert Insights into the DRC Mystery Illness
You can also find out more about the following: WHO It is important to take immediate action. “Urgent steps are required to speed up laboratory investigations, enhance case management and isolate capacities, strengthen surveillance, and communicate risks.” A remote location with a poor health care system increases the likelihood of the virus spreading further, so immediate action at a high level is needed to stop the outbreak.
Tarik Jašarević, a WHO spokespersonAccording to, “the exact cause is unknown.” WHO has begun investigating to see if the disease is the result of another illness or an agent toxic.
What to do next?
Officials from the Department of Health are investigating a variety of possible causes, including Ebola and Marburg viruses, as well as food poisoning, meningitis, typhoid virus, and malaria. The testing for infectious diseases and toxic substances is ongoing.
WHO stated that Ebola has been ruled-out following tests performed at the National Institute for Biomedical Research (NIBR) in Kinshasa. Some samples, however, tested positive for Malaria. It may be necessary to investigate possible co-infections.
WHO highlights the key challenges of rapid progress of disease and high mortality rates in affected areas. These characteristics are crucial to contain and manage the DRC mystery outbreak.