Riya Baibhawi

Mysterious Disease Kills 50 In Congo, WHO Says

A mystery illness has killed over 50 people in northwestern <span>Congo</span>, World Health Organization (WHO) officials have reported. "The interval between the onset of symptoms and death has been 48 hours in the majority of cases, and that's what is really worrying," Serge Ngalebato, medical director of Bikoro Hospital, a regional monitoring centre said. The latest disease outbreak in DRC began on January 21. Since then 419 cases have been recorded including 53 deaths.

According to the WHO's Africa office, the first outbreak was recorded in the town of Boloko where three children ate a bat and died within 48 hours following hemorrhagic fever symptoms. After the second outbreak of this unknown disease began on Feb 9, samples from 13 cases were sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, for testing. As per authorities, all samples have been negative for Ebola or other common hemorrhagic fever diseases like <span>Marburg</span>. However, some tested positive for <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/malaria">Malaria</a></span>.

There have long been concerns about diseases jumping from animals to humans in places where wild animals are popularly eaten. The number of such outbreaks in Africa has surged by more than 60% in the last decade, the WHO said in 2022. Last year, another mystery flu-like illness that killed dozens of people in another part of Congo was determined to be likely malaria.

DRC has been a susceptible area when it comes to infections. Repeated mass displacement in the country has created ideal conditions for the spread of many endemic diseases in camps and surrounding communities in the Kivus, including cholera (more than 22,000 cases and 60 deaths in 2024), measles (close to 12,000 cases and 115 deaths) and malaria, as well as chronic child malnutrition. In August last year, WHO Director General <span>Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus</span> also declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

Despite a "robust" initial response to the mpox threat by WHO and national partners that has been coordinated from Kinshasa and field offices in Goma and South Kivu, Dr Sambo warned that mpox patients had fled at least one camp’s treatment centre and were now living now in host communities and with families. "So, we are there’s a fear for the disease to be spreading widely in communities, but at this point we cannot say because we have not been able to get there and assess what's happening right now,"he said. 

<h2>What Do We Know About Malaria?</h2>Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries. It is preventable and curable.

The most common early symptoms of malaria are fever, headache and chills. Severe symptoms include convulsions, extreme tiredness and fatigue, difficulty breathing, and dark or bloody urine. According to WHO, symptoms usually start within 10–15 days of getting bitten by an infected mosquito. They may be mild for some people, especially for those who have had a malaria infection before. Because some malaria symptoms are not specific, getting tested early is important. Some types of malaria can cause severe illness and death. Infants, children under 5 years, pregnant women, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk. 

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Mysterious Disease in CONGO

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A mystery illness has killed over 50 people in northwestern Congo, World Health Organization (WHO) officials have reported. "The interval between the onset of symptoms and death has been 48 hours in the majority of cases, and that's what is really worrying," Serge Ngalebato, medical director of Bikoro Hospital, a regional monitoring centre said. The latest disease outbreak in DRC began on January 21. Since then 419 cases have been recorded including 53 deaths.According to the WHO's Africa office, the first outbreak was recorded in the town of Boloko where three children ate a bat and died within 48 hours following hemorrhagic fever symptoms. After the second outbreak of this unknown disease began on Feb 9, samples from 13 cases were sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, for testing. As per authorities, all samples have been negative for Ebola or other common hemorrhagic fever diseases like Marburg. However, some tested positive for Malaria.There have long been concerns about diseases jumping from animals to humans in places where wild animals are popularly eaten. The number of such outbreaks in Africa has surged by more than 60% in the last decade, the WHO said in 2022. Last year, another mystery flu-like illness that killed dozens of people in another part of Congo was determined to be likely malaria.DRC has been a susceptible area when it comes to infections. Repeated mass displacement in the country has created ideal conditions for the spread of many endemic diseases in camps and surrounding communities in the Kivus, including cholera (more than 22,000 cases and 60 deaths in 2024), measles (close to 12,000 cases and 115 deaths) and malaria, as well as chronic child malnutrition. In August last year, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.Despite a "robust" initial response to the mpox threat by WHO and national partners that has been coordinated from Kinshasa and field offices in Goma and South Kivu, Dr Sambo warned that mpox patients had fled at least one camp’s treatment centre and were now living now in host communities and with families. "So, we are there’s a fear for the disease to be spreading widely in communities, but at this point we cannot say because we have not been able to get there and assess what's happening right now,"he said. What Do We Know About Malaria?Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries. It is preventable and curable.The most common early symptoms of malaria are fever, headache and chills. Severe symptoms include convulsions, extreme tiredness and fatigue, difficulty breathing, and dark or bloody urine. According to WHO, symptoms usually start within 10–15 days of getting bitten by an infected mosquito. They may be mild for some people, especially for those who have had a malaria infection before. Because some malaria symptoms are not specific, getting tested early is important. Some types of malaria can cause severe illness and death. Infants, children under 5 years, pregnant women, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk. 