Deadly illness in Congo kills over 50 people within hours
A deadly illness in northwestern Congo has killed more than 50 people in just a few hours after they started feeling sick, health authorities have said.
The disease was first discovered in three children who ate a bat and died within two days.
Since the outbreak began on January 21, at least 419 people have fallen ill with many suffering from fever, vomiting, and internal bleeding—symptoms linked to serious viruses like Ebola and Marburg.
However health experts have tested samples, and none of these common deadly diseases have been found.
Doctors say what makes this outbreak frightening is how quickly people are dying. In most cases, victims develop symptoms and pass away within 48 hours.
The disease first spread in a village called Boloko, then appeared in another village, Bomate, in February, CNN reports.
Scientists in the capital, Kinshasa, are testing samples to find the cause. So far, some tests have detected malaria, but experts are still searching for answers.
Last year, another mysterious illness in Congo was later found to be malaria, but this new outbreak remains unsolved.
Health officials are worried about diseases that spread from animals to humans, especially in places where wild animals are eaten. The number of such outbreaks in Africa has risen sharply in the past decade, and experts say they need more research to stop future outbreaks.
