A Deadly Unidentified Disease Has Emerged in the DRC
1 min read
Summary
An unknown disease causing Ebola-like symptoms has infected hundreds and killed more than 50 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Initial investigations suggest the outbreak began after three children ate the carcass of a bat in the village of Boloko, however, results from 18 cases have tested negative for common pathogens.
The WHO has raised concerns over the severity of the disease, urging the need for further investigation, better isolation procedures and a faster response.
The African continent has seen a 63% increase in outbreaks of diseases transmitted from animals to people over the last decade, with changing land use and climate change deemed the main causes.
Only a matter of months ago, another mysterious illness killed 70+ people in the same country, symptoms of which were flu-like and were later found to be linked to respiratory infections and aggravated by malaria.
