A Mystery Disease Has Killed Dozens So Far in Northwestern Congo

Something is killing people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and no one knows what it is. World Health Organization officials have reported two clusters of a mystery illness in the area that has sickened hundreds and killed dozens in the past few weeks alone. WHO officials in the African Region released the latest update on the situation last Thursday. So far, there have been 431 cases and 53 deaths attributed to an unknown illness in northwestern DRC dating back to January. Initial tests have ruled out established suspects like Ebola and Marburg, and it’s still unclear whether there’s a single culprit to blame. DRC officials reported the newest cases in mid-February. The largest and latest outbreak is occurring in Bomate Village, with at least 419 people sickened and 45 dead as of February 15. Several weeks earlier, a cluster of illness was also reported in Boloko Village. At least 12 cases and eight deaths were documented in Boloko and the nearby village of Danda. Though the t ... Read full article.