CDC Monitors Outbreak of Deadly Unknown Disease in Congo

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo (AP) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak of a mysterious disease that has claimed at least 53 lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to an announcement made on March 4, 2025.

The CDC’s involvement comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a total of 1,318 people exhibiting symptoms of the disease, with the latest fatalities recorded as of February 25. The WHO provided updated figures on February 27, which indicated 60 deaths but did not clarify the apparent discrepancy in numbers.

Local health officials have reported the last known death occurred on February 22. The illness primarily affects young males and has a median time from symptom onset to death of just one day.

“Deaths have occurred in all age groups, but adolescents and young adults, particularly males, appear to be disproportionately affected in the initial cluster reported,” the WHO stated in a release. The disease displays rapid progression, raising alarms among health authorities.

Both the WHO and CDC are investigating potential causes of the outbreak. Current hypotheses include chemical poisoning or a rapid onset of bacterial meningitis, particularly since many affected individuals were already ill with common diseases like malaria.

Approximately 50% of malaria tests conducted on affected cases returned positive results, the WHO reported. Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, nausea, and gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea and vomiting, among others.

Initial laboratory tests have ruled out Ebola and Marburg viruses, but further investigations for meningitis are ongoing. The WHO is also examining the possibility of food and water contamination as potential vectors of transmission.

The outbreak’s emergence is not an isolated incident, as it marks the third surge of illness and fatalities in differing regions of Congo within a few months. In a previous case last December, an unexplained cluster of illnesses was later attributed to malaria and respiratory infections.

“The remote location and weakened healthcare infrastructure increase the risk of further spread,” the WHO noted. In response to the outbreak, health authorities have dispatched medical supplies, including testing kits, and trained over 80 community health workers to enhance disease surveillance and reporting.

A rapid response team arrived in the affected province on February 16, with additional support from the WHO arriving shortly thereafter.

As investigations continue, the WHO currently assesses the local public health risk as moderate, while deeming the national and global health risks as low.