The World Health Organization (WHO) African regional office has ruled out Ebola and Marburg viruses as causes of two unexplained illness clusters in Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The outbreaks were reported on February 9 and January 21, affecting Bromate Villega and Boloko Village in the Basankusu Health Zone and Bolomba Health District, respectively.
As of February 15, a total of 419 suspected cases have been reported, including 45 deaths. Symptoms include fever, headache, body ache, neck stiffness, cough, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Specimens from patients were tested negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses at the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa.
The WHO has launched an investigation into possible differential diagnoses, including malaria, viral haemorrhagic fever, food or water poisoning, typhoid fever, and meningitis. The exact circumstances of exposure remain unknown, and no epidemiological links have been established between the cases in the two affected health zones.
Equateur Province, where the outbreaks occurred, has experienced Ebola outbreaks in the past. Further testing and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of these mysterious illnesses.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/misc-emerging-topics/tests-rule-out-ebola-marburg-dr-congo-unexplained-illness-clusters