Mysterious Illness Claims 52 Lives in DRC’s Equateur Province

At least 52 people have died from an unidentified illness in Basankusu, Equateur Province, northwest Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), local authorities confirmed on Monday.

Since February 9, over 943 cases of fever of unknown origin have been reported, resulting in a 5.5% mortality rate, according to Actualite news.

Patients have presented symptoms such as fever, chills, headaches, and joint pain. Health officials revealed that 55% of those affected tested positive for malaria, though the exact cause of the outbreak remains unclear.

Authorities have ruled out the possibility of an Ebola outbreak, but investigations are ongoing to identify the source of the illness and contain its spread.