Prime Highlights:
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring a mysterious disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has sickened over 1,000 people and caused 60 deaths.
The WHO has delivered emergency medical supplies, including testing kits, and has trained over 80 local health workers to enhance disease detection and response.
Key Background:
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is actively monitoring an emerging and unexplained disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following reports of a rising number of cases and fatalities. As of March, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the illness has affected at least 1,096 people, with 60 reported deaths.
The illness, which has shown a rapid spread over the past five weeks, presents with symptoms such as fever, severe headache, chills, muscle and joint pain, and gastrointestinal issues, including vomiting and diarrhea. Additionally, some patients have exhibited signs of internal bleeding, including nosebleeds. Despite initial concerns, laboratory tests have ruled out Ebola and Marburg virus disease, which are often linked to similar outbreaks in the region. Initial findings show that malaria, a common disease in the area, was detected in about half of the tested samples, while further tests for meningitis and possible contamination of food or water sources are ongoing.
The outbreak first surfaced in a village where three children tragically died after consuming bat meat, and the disease spread from there. The CDC, in collaboration with Congolese health officials, is offering support and guidance in disease detection, case reporting, and response measures. The WHO has also delivered critical emergency medical supplies, including testing kits, and is training community health workers to improve case surveillance.
This marks the third significant health emergency in Congo in recent months, with past outbreaks in December 2024 linked to malaria and respiratory illnesses. The CDC, alongside the WHO, continues to monitor the situation, providing technical assistance to ensure an effective response to the unknown disease, as further investigations are underway.
