A mysterious illness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to another village, with 141 more confirmed cases and 60 deaths. The outbreak began with the death of three children who ate a bat carcass. Tests ruled out Ebola, Marburg virus, and yellow fever. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, sweating, and bleeding. W.H.O. is conducting disease surveillance and providing treatment for diseases like malaria and meningitis.
Key Points
Outbreak started with the death of three children who ate a bat carcass
Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, sweating, and bleeding
W.H.O. conducting disease surveillance and providing treatment for malaria and meningitis
Possible exacerbation of the illness by malaria, meningitis, or food poisoning
Pros
Increased disease surveillance to identify and treat affected individuals
Efforts to understand the background and possible causes of the outbreak
Cons
High death toll of 60 individuals
Limited access to testing and treatment due to remote locations and poor infrastructure