Africa - 60 people dead and over 1,000 more are sick from a deadly "unknown disease", Democratic Republic of Congo, 27 Feb 2025

[imstilla.grandma]

"The remote location and weak healthcare infrastructure increase the risk of further spread," the WHO notes in its report

Over 60 deaths linked to 'unknown disease' in Congo: WHO

Over 60 deaths have been linked to an "unknown disease" in the Democratic Republic of Congo since January.

abcnews.go.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

*An unknown illness first discovered in three children who ate a bat has rapidly killed more than 50 people in northwestern Congo over the past five weeks, health experts say.

The interval between the onset of symptoms – which include fever, vomiting and internal bleeding – and death has been 48 hours in most cases and “that’s what’s really worrying,” said Serge Ngalebato, medical director of Bikoro Hospital, a regional monitoring center

*this is the second time today my eyes are tearing up...

 

[LaborDayRN]

World

Mystery illness in Congo kills more than 50 people, including children who ate a bat​

February 25, 2025 / 7:38 AM EST / CBS/AP
An unknown illness has killed over 50 people in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to doctors in the central African nation and the World Health Organization.

The interval between the onset of symptoms and death has been just 48 hours in the majority of cases, and "that's what's really worrying," Serge Ngalebato, medical director of Bikoro Hospital, a regional monitoring center, told The Associated Press on Monday.

Mystery illness in Congo kills more than 50 people, including children who ate a bat

The outbreak began in January, with 419 cases recorded so far, and comes after another mystery illness killed 143 in December

www.cbsnews.com

 

[chimpface]

Just as USAID is withdrawn...

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Undiagnosed disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

Between 24 October and 5 December 2024, Panzi health zone in Kwango Province of Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded 406 cases of an undiagnosed disease with symptoms of fever, headache, cough, runny nose and body ache. All severe cases were reported to be severely malnourished. Among the...

www.who.int

A hemorrhagic fever outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has left more than 50 people dead

https://www.wboy.com/news/health/ap-malaria-endures-in-northwest-congo-as-officials-seek-cause-of-illnesses-that-have-sickened-hundreds/

Initial laboratory analysis has turned out negative for Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease. Around half of the samples tested positive for malaria, which is common in the region. Further tests are to be carried out for meningitis. Food, water and environmental samples will also be analysed, to determine if there might be contamination. The various samples will be sent for further testing at the national reference laboratory in Kinshasa. Earlier samples turned out not to be viable and re-testing was undertaken

Democratic Republic of the Congo deepens investigation on cluster of illness and community deaths in Equateur province

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and experts from World Health Organization (WHO) are carrying out further investigations to determine the cause of another cluster of illness and community deaths in Equateur province.

www.afro.who.int

 

[LadyL]

This is heartbreaking. I assume the children were starving and I assume it's not common practice to eat bats there?

 

[PrairieWind]

This is heartbreaking. I assume the children were starving and I assume it's not common practice to eat bats there?

I don't know. Bats are eaten in east and southeast Asia. I don't know about in Africa.