Health experts are urging Australians to stay vigilant following an outbreak of a mystery illness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The disease has already claimed over 50 lives in just hours after symptoms appeared, leaving scientists scrambling to identify the cause.
Hundreds Infected, Many Die Within Hours
Officials reported 419 infections in Congo as of Monday, February 24. The outbreak is believed to have started nearly a month earlier, on January 21.
The first known cases involved three children in the village of Boloko who ate a dead bat.
Within 48 hours, all three died, showing signs of hemorrhagic fever—a category of illnesses caused by multiple viruses.
What Is Hemorrhagic Fever?
Hemorrhagic fever includes a range of diseases, some of which cause mild symptoms, while others can lead to severe, life-threatening conditions.
Some of these illnesses are classified as high consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs).
According to the UK government, hemorrhagic fever viruses typically rely on animal hosts and are mostly found in Africa, South America, and Asia. Some strains are also present in parts of Europe.
Deadly Viruses Ruled Out
Health officials initially suspected known deadly viruses, such as Ebola, Marburg, and dengue, but lab tests ruled them out after analyzing over a dozen samples.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that this raises serious concerns about the possibility of a severe infectious or toxic agent being responsible for the outbreak.
Symptoms of the Mystery Illness
Those infected have experienced:
- Fever and chills
- Headache, body aches, and muscle pain
- Runny nose and excessive sweating
- Cough and neck stiffness
- Vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps
What’s most alarming is that nearly half of the deaths occurred within just 48 hours of symptoms appearing.
Global Health Experts Express Concern
Dr. Serge Ngalebato, medical director of Bikoro Hospital, described the situation as “really worrying.”
Dr. Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, said the illness’s potential to spread is a real concern.
While a pandemic is unlikely, experts caution that the illness could spread within the DRC and possibly beyond.
Could the Illness Spread to Other Countries?
Health authorities worldwide, including Australia, are on high alert.
Professor Catherine Bennett, an epidemiologist at Deakin University, reassured the public that while panic is unnecessary, it’s important to remain cautious.
“I’m not nervous. It’s about being vigilant,” she told the Daily Mail.
She expects scientists will identify the cause soon, explaining, “They’re ruling things out. It might be a familiar pathogen, but different enough that current tests don’t detect it.”
Experts are also investigating whether the illness could stem from food or water poisoning, rather than an infectious disease.
The Role of Air Travel in Disease Spread
One of the biggest concerns is that people can travel internationally before showing symptoms, potentially spreading the disease.
Professor Bennett emphasized the need to determine how long it takes for symptoms to appear and when people become infectious.
Dr. Peter Collignon, an infectious diseases physician and microbiologist, agrees that the risk of worldwide spread remains low.
“It’s a problem, but there’s a low probability it will transmit all around the world,” he said.
However, experts remain hopeful, with Collignon adding, “They should be able to work out what it is in the next few days because they’ve got enough material.”
For now, global health organizations are closely monitoring the situation as they race to identify and contain this mystery illness.