A mysterious illness in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 50 people and infected hundreds, prompting global health authorities to investigate the cause and potential risk of further spread. The outbreak, which has affected at least two villages in the country's northwest region, has raised concerns due to the rapid onset of symptoms and high fatality rate, according to a bulletin from the World Health Organization's Africa office.
At least 431 cases have been reported as of mid-February, with early reports suggesting the illness may have originated from children who consumed a bat carcass. "What has many public health officials concerned is hearing that some of these kids who died consumed a bat carcass," Dr. Céline Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor, said Wednesday. Bats are known to carry various infectious diseases, including Ebola and coronaviruses.
While the exact cause remains unknown, laboratory testing has so far ruled out Ebola and Marburg virus, two hemorrhagic fevers that have caused previous deadly outbreaks in the region. Initial samples have tested positive for malaria, but experts remain skeptical about whether the disease alone could be responsible for the unusually high death rate and rapid disease progression. "The question remains, why are people getting this sick and dying so quickly?" Gounder said.
The WHO bulletin states that most patients succumb to the illness within 48 hours of developing symptoms, which include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and stiff neck. Some cases have presented with internal bleeding, which can be a sign of severe infections such as viral hemorrhagic fevers but can also occur in extreme cases of malaria or sepsis.
Serge Ngalebato, medical director of Bikoro Hospital, described the situation as "really worrying," noting that the remote location and limited healthcare infrastructure could allow the disease to spread further. The WHO has warned that the fragile healthcare system in the affected region "increases the risk of further spread, requiring immediate high-level intervention to contain the outbreak."
Gounder suggested that if the illness turns out to be malaria, the risk of it becoming a global threat is minimal, as the disease is transmitted primarily through mosquito bites. She's not "overly concerned" about a global pandemic if this is malaria, she said, adding that standard containment measures should be effective. However, if another pathogen is at play, the situation could become more alarming.
The outbreak has reignited concerns over the preparedness of global health systems, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts have raised questions about the potential consequences of President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO, as well as recent funding cuts to federal agencies involved in pandemic response. "We have seen the emergence of infectious disease accelerate over the last couple of decades," Gounder said. "Pulling back staffing, such as layoffs at the CDC or dismantling USAID, will make on-the-ground investigations more difficult."
Some experts have drawn comparisons to early reports of COVID-19, which was also initially linked to animal-to-human transmission. While there is no evidence yet to suggest a similar scenario, researchers are racing to determine whether the outbreak in Congo involves a new or previously unknown virus.
Health officials have deployed teams to the affected areas, but efforts have been hampered by logistical challenges and the need for more comprehensive testing. "There is a huge amount of uncertainty about this outbreak," one researcher told the Daily Mail, noting that the lack of healthcare infrastructure makes the response more complicated. The region has previously dealt with outbreaks of Ebola and mpox, giving local officials experience in handling infectious disease threats.
