United States: The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that an unknown disease has killed more than fifty patients right after their symptoms emerged in northwestern Congo.
More about the news
Medical staff have documented 419 cases, of which 53 people have died since the original outbreak initiated in the Democratic Republic of Congo on January 21.
First symptoms usually precede death within 48 hours, according to doctors treating patients at the affected sites.
According to Serge Ngalebato, medical director of Bikoro Hospital, a regional monitoring center, “That’s what’s really worrying,” independent.co.uk reported.
WHO statement
The WHO Africa office reported that three Boloko-area children ate a bat, which led to their death by hemorrhagic fever symptoms within 48 hours.
Medical researchers have continuously expressed worries about zoonotic disease transmission to humans in locations where wild animals are regularly eaten.
Research from 2022 indicates that these types of outbreaks in Africa grew by 60 percent in the previous ten years.
WHO reports that tests for 13 cases have been sent to Kinshasa’s National Institute for Biomedical Research on February 9 when Bomate experienced its second outbreak of this mysterious disease.
However, testing results from all samples show no signs of Ebola, Marburg, or any other associated common hemorrhagic fever diseases.
Some tested positive for malaria. Testing confirmed that the flu-like disease, which claimed numerous lives in Congo’s different regions during the last year, proved to be malaria.
Warning issued by the WHO
The WHO issued an alert this month about how escalated violence in eastern Congo drove medical facilities to complete destruction.
As per the independent.co.uk, it is widely stated that an “already dire situation” had been exacerbated for millions of people.
Since the beginning of the response, WHO has stayed on location to offer medical supplies, health worker support, and emergency response coordination.