Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), are investigating a concerning outbreak of mysterious illnesses and deaths in Equateur Province.
The outbreak has sickened 1,096 people and claimed 60 lives.
The most recent cases emerged in the Basankusu health zone, where 141 new illnesses were reported last week, though no fatalities were recorded in this group.
This follows a February outbreak in the same area, which saw 158 cases and 58 deaths. In January, the nearby Bolomba health zone reported 12 cases, including eight deaths, according to a WHO statement issued Thursday.
Patients have presented symptoms including fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, stiff neck, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in severe cases, nosebleeds.
While initial laboratory tests have ruled out Ebola and Marburg viruses, around half of the samples tested positive for malaria.
Further investigations are underway to explore other possible causes, including meningitis and environmental contamination.
A national rapid response team, supported by WHO emergency experts, has been deployed to the affected regions to conduct investigations and provide critical medical care.
However, response efforts are being hampered by poor infrastructure and limited access to healthcare in the remote areas of Basankusu and Bolomba.
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The outbreak adds to the DRC’s ongoing health challenges, including severe malaria outbreaks exacerbated by malnutrition.
In late 2024, the southwestern Kwango Province faced a similar “mysterious disease,” which was later identified as severe malaria.
That outbreak resulted in 2,774 cases and 77 deaths by January 2025.
Adding to the strain, escalating armed conflict in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces has worsened the humanitarian crisis.
Looting, attacks on aid workers, and road blockages have severely disrupted relief operations, further complicating efforts to address the nation’s multiple health emergencies.
