A new mystery disease outbreak has emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), resulting in at least 60 deaths, according to health officials. The outbreak is similar to a 2024 event referred to as “Disease X,” which was later identified as a combination of several known acute respiratory illnesses complicated by malaria and malnutrition.
The current situation in the Equateur province, where over 1,000 cases have been reported, suggests that toxic contamination or other unknown causes may be responsible for the outbreak. Early lab tests have ruled out Ebola and Marburg disease, but half of those tested have shown positive results for malaria.
WHO experts believe that toxic contamination is a possible cause, with emergencies director Mike Ryan stating that it “appears we have some kind of poisoning event.” However, the true cause of the disease remains unknown, despite early reports suggesting that a group of children may have eaten a bat as the source of the outbreak.
Symptoms of the mystery disease include fever, headaches, chills, sweating, stiffness in the neck, muscular aches, joint and body pain, coughing, vomiting, and diarrhea. Since these symptoms can be caused by many diseases, further analysis is needed to determine the cause.
The limited health infrastructure in the region raises concerns about the potential spread of the disease. Local authorities have experience addressing other outbreaks, including Mpox and Ebola, which could help contain new diseases. However, if a previously unknown pathogen is identified as the cause, measures will need to be taken to prevent its spread.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/another-mystery-disease-outbreak-in-dr-congo-what-we-know/a-71783032