A mysterious illness linked to eating bats has spread rapidly across the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing over 50 people in five weeks. The disease, which includes symptoms such as fever and internal bleeding, was first detected in three children who ate a bat and died within 48 hours.
Researchers have ruled out known deadly viruses like Ebola, dengue, Marburg, and yellow fever, but the exact cause of the outbreak remains unknown. The World Health Organization has reported 419 cases, with 53 deaths so far. Samples from affected areas tested negative for common hemorrhagic fever diseases but positive for malaria in some instances.
This is not the first time a similar disease has occurred in Congo. Last year, another flu-like illness was determined to be likely caused by malaria. The recent surge in animal-to-human disease outbreaks in Africa has increased concerns, with over 60% more cases reported in the last decade.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/25/health/congo-mystery-illness/index.html