A mysterious illness, linked to bat consumption, has claimed over 50 lives in northwestern Congo. The outbreak began in Boloko village five weeks ago when three children died within 48 hours of eating a bat, sparking concerns about a new zoonotic threat. Patients exhibit hemorrhagic symptoms such as fever, vomiting, and internal bleeding, which initially raised suspicions of Ebola or Marburg. However, tests on more than a dozen samples have ruled out known hemorrhagic viruses. With 419 cases and 53 fatalities recorded since January 21, this rapid, deadly outbreak further highlights the growing risk of diseases jumping from animals to humans.
Source: CNN
