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Investing.com -- The World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating two outbreaks of an unknown illness that has resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The sickness has been prevalent in remote villages in separate health zones in Equateur province. As of February 16, the WHO reported 431 cases and 53 deaths.
The illness has seen a rapid rise in cases within days, posing a significant public health threat, according to WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic. The exact cause of the outbreak remains unknown. The affected villages have limited surveillance capacity and health infrastructure.
The larger of the two outbreaks, originating from Bomate village in Equateur’s Basankusu health zone, has accounted for 45 deaths out of 419 cases. Symptoms of the illness include fever, pain, vomiting and diarrhea, with almost half of the patients dying within 48 hours of falling ill.
Test samples from 13 cases have come back negative for Ebola and Marburg. Health teams are investigating other potential causes locally, including malaria, food poisoning, typhoid, meningitis or other viral haemorrhagic fever.
An earlier outbreak, involving eight deaths among 12 cases, was reported from Boloko Village in Bolomba health zone on January 21. This outbreak was traced back to three deaths among children under five years old in the village earlier that month. Symptoms included fever and fatigue, which progressed to haemorrhagic signs such as nosebleeds and vomiting blood. Reports suggested the children had consumed a dead bat prior to falling ill.
The other cases were found in the same village and nearby Dondo village, all with similar symptoms. At the end of January, samples taken from patients all tested negative for Ebola and Marburg. The WHO stated that no links have been established between the two clusters of cases.
"We are looking into whether it is another infection or whether it is some toxic agent. We have to see what can be done and at what point WHO can support," Jasarevic said, recalling similar outbreaks in the past. An outbreak of an unknown cause reported in Congo in December was ultimately identified as malaria.
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