Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are working hard to identify a mysterious disease that has infected 376 people and killed 79. The disease, which was first reported in Kwango province, presents with flu-like symptoms including fever, headache, nasal congestion, cough, difficulty breathing and anemia, according to the Ministry of Public Health, Sanitation and Social Security.

In an alert posted on X (formerly Twitter), the ministry confirmed that the origin of the disease remains unknown, causing widespread concern. The location of the outbreak and its symptoms have worried health experts around the world.

Dr. Abrar Karan, an infectious disease expert at Stanford Medicine, expressed concern about possible links to outbreaks of zoonotic diseases. They noted that the high contact levels between humans and wildlife in the DRC may increase the potential for pathogens to jump from animals to humans. “Many zoonotic infections that spread from animals to humans can cause quite serious disease,” he said, stressing the urgency of identifying the pathogen.

Local health officials are taking a phased approach to determine the cause of the outbreak. Initial testing will screen for common infections such as influenza and malaria. If those tests yield no results, more advanced methods such as genetic sequencing of tissue, blood, mucus, or bone marrow samples from affected individuals will be pursued.

However, the DRC faces significant obstacles due to its weak healthcare infrastructure. Dr. Anne Rimoin, an epidemiologist at UCLA who has worked in Congo for more than two decades, said the prevalence of malaria and malnutrition can complicate diagnosis.

“I think it’s really important to be aware of what’s going on, but it’s also important not to panic until we have more information,” Rimoin said. He noted a wide range of disease possibilities, including influenza, meningitis, Ebola, Marburg virus, and measles.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has sent a team to the affected area to collect samples for laboratory testing. WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic assured that the organization was monitoring the situation closely.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which operates an office in the DRC, is also assisting local rapid response teams by providing technical expertise.

Amira Albert Roes, a professor of global health at George Mason University, said international teams are working to identify common risk factors among patients and track their contacts. He expressed hope that the source of the disease would soon be known, although he acknowledged the worrying death toll and the rapid spread of symptoms.

With the death toll rising, experts have warned that time is of the essence to prevent it from rising further. As the investigation continues, global health officials remain cautious and are urging calm until the mysterious disease is revealed.

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