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Mystery Virus in the DRC and Other Central African Health Hazards

An unknown disease is spreading throughout villages in the Equateur province of the Democratic Republic of Congo and has so far killed over 60 individuals and infected at least 955. This is one of many ongoing outbreaks in Central and Eastern Africa.

Symptoms and Affected Area

Symptoms of the unknown disease include fever, chills, headache, a cough, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, sweating, a runny or bleeding nose, and/or a stiff neck. The disease has a case fatality rate of 6.30%  according to the latest W.H.O. assessment. It generally kills the infected within 48 hours of showing symptoms, though experts have not yet determined the length of its incubation period. Children under 5 constituted roughly 1/5 of the affected population with a case fatality rate of 5.30%.

The disease has affected two Health Zones in the Equateur province. From January 10^th to January 25^th, 2025, the disease infected 12 and killed 8 in the Bolomba Health Zone. In the Basankusu Health Zone, the disease has infected 943 and killed at least 52.

Transmission and Origin

The World Health Organization’s head of emergencies, Michael Ryan, claimed that the disease originated from poisoned water sources, stating that symptoms resembled meningitis or exposure to chemical agents. However, W.H.O’s preliminary investigations have traced the disease’s origins in Bolomba to three children who consumed a bat carcass before falling ill and passing away.

54.10% of those tested from a sample of 571 symptomatic individuals in the Basankusu Health Zone tested positive for malaria. The W.H.O. ruled out Ebola and Marburg virus disease as the symptoms’ cause.

Experts are continuing to investigate the illness. Once they determine the nature of the illness, they will have a better understanding of how it spreads. Malaria is transmitted through blood while a number of other fatal illnesses are waterborne. The mode of transmission, according to CBS medical contributor Dr. Celine Grounder., will be determinate in the disease’s ability to spread outside of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s borders. If experts determine that it is a strand of malaria, the risk of a transnational pandemic will be relatively low.

Other Regional Disease Outbreaks  

The World Health Organization has reported on a variety of disease outbreaks in Africa in 2025. The following assessments concerning the nations bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo are based on the latest available data published by the W.H.O. For additional information, please consult this document prepared by the W.H.O.

• Angola, Cholera: As of February 23^rd, 4,914 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on December 31^st, 2024. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 3.70%.
• Burundi, Cholera: As of February 23^rd, 2,349 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on January 1^st, 2025. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 0.50%.
• Burundi, Mpox: As of February 16^th, 7,103 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on July 25^th, 2024. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 0.00%.
• Central African Republic, Mpox: As of February 9^th, 99 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on March 4^th, 2022. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 3.00%.
• Central African Republic, Dengue Fever: As of February 9^th, 107 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on July 13^th, 2024. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 0.00%.
• Congo, Mpox: As of February 16^th, 40 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on January 1^st, 2024. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 0.00%.
• Kenya, Measles: As of February 18^th, 2,949 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on January 1^st, 2023. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 0.60%.
• Kenya, Mpox: As of February 18^th, 42 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on July 22^nd, 2024. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 2.40%.
• Tanzania, Cholera: As of February 19^th, 13,833 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on September 5^th, 2023. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 1.10%.
• Tanzania, Marburg Virus Disease: As of February 16^th, 10 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on December 10^th, 2024. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 100.00%.
• Uganda, Cholera: As of February 9^th, 117 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on January 7^th, 2025. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 0.90%.
• Uganda, Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever: As of February 9^th, 4 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on January 7^th, 2025. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 25.00%.
• Uganda, Mpox: As of February 16^th, 3,391 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on July 29^th, 2024. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 0.70%.
• Uganda, Sudan Virus Disease: As of February 16^th, 9 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on January 25^th, 2025. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 11.10%.
• Zambia, Cholera: As of January 25^th, 96 cases had been reported since the beginning of the reporting period on December 25^th, 2024. The case fatality rate of this outbreak was 5.20%.

Poliovirus circulates throughout Central and Eastern Africa. This paralyzing disease spreads through human contact, through food, and by way of water. It primarily affects children under the age of five, though any unvaccinated individual can contract the illness.

The World Health Organization provides overviews of the symptoms, transmission, treatment, diagnostic criteria, and risk factors for and of cholera, mpox, dengue fever, Marburg virus disease, measles, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Sudan virus disease, and poliovirus.