A mysterious illness has claimed the lives of over 50 people in northwestern Congo, with most victims dying within 48 hours of showing symptoms.
According to doctors and the World Health Organization (WHO), the outbreak began on January 21, with 419 cases and 53 deaths reported so far.
The illness is characterized by hemorrhagic fever symptoms, and initial tests have ruled out Ebola and Marburg.
Some samples have tested positive for malaria, but the exact cause of the illness remains unknown.
The WHO has sent samples to the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa for further testing.
The organisation has also expressed concern about the surge in animal-to-human disease outbreaks in Africa, which has increased by over 60% in the past decade.
