Mystery Killer Disease Strikes Fast—Over 50 Dead in Hours as Doctors Sound the Alarm
A mysterious and deadly illness has surfaced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing victims within hours of symptom onset and raising serious concerns among health professionals. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that over 50 people have succumbed to the unidentified disease in the country’s northwest as it spreads at an alarming rate.
WHO medics on the ground have documented hundreds of cases, noting the extremely short two-day period from symptom appearance to fatality. Serge Ngalebato, medical director of Bikoro Hospital, expressed deep concern about the rapid progression of the illness, calling the situation “really worrying.”
Experts fear that another virus may have jumped from animals to humans, potentially triggering a new health crisis. Since the outbreak began on January 21, authorities have recorded 419 cases and 53 deaths, resulting in a concerning 12.49 percent mortality rate—far exceeding the 3.14 percent mortality rate of COVID-19.
The outbreak reportedly originated in Boloko town, where three children who had consumed bat meat died from hemorrhagic fever within 48 hours. The incident highlights the ongoing risks of zoonotic diseases in areas where the consumption of wild animals is prevalent.
The WHO reported in 2022 that the number of disease outbreaks in Africa has surged by more than 60 percent over the past decade. Following a second outbreak of an unidentified illness in the town of Bomate on February 9, 13 samples from affected individuals were sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa for thorough testing, according to reports by The Mirror.
WHO has confirmed that all samples tested negative for Ebola and other common hemorrhagic fever viruses such as Marburg. However, some samples did test positive for malaria. Last year, a similar unidentified flu-like illness that led to multiple fatalities in another part of the country was later identified as malaria.
As investigations continue, health officials are racing to determine the cause of this deadly outbreak and prevent further fatalities. The rapid transmission and high mortality rate underscore the urgent need for heightened surveillance and swift containment measures to avert a broader health crisis.
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