1,300+ cases, 50+ deaths: DRC in grips of unidentified illness, mutant mpox

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is grappling with a severe health crisis as over 1,300 cases of a mysterious illness and more than 50 deaths have been reported in the past week.

Health officials are struggling to identify the source of the outbreak, raising concerns about the potential role of wild animal consumption, particularly bat meat.

Unidentified illness raises alarm

The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to investigate the illness, which remains unidentified despite extensive testing. Early analyses suggest the illness could be linked to infections, toxins, or chemical poisoning. Lauren Sauer, an outbreak response expert at the Special Pathogens Education and Training Center in Baltimore, said, “The relentless rise in case numbers is a huge red flag. It is particularly concerning that tests have not revealed a consistent pattern to explain the source of the cases.”

The symptoms of the illness, including fever, headache, chills, sweating, neck stiffness, body aches, runny or bleeding nose, cough, vomiting, and diarrhea, are causing widespread fear among local communities.

Is bat meat a culprit?

One leading theory is that toxic water sources might be to blame. WHO’s Emergency Director Michael Ryan noted during a briefing on February 28 that some cases could be linked to contaminated water. Other potential causes include meningitis, malaria, Ebola, and other hemorrhagic fevers.

Reports also suggest that some of the initial cases involved individuals who had consumed bat meat, adding to fears that a zoonotic virus may be involved.

Mutant mpox strain emerges

Adding to the crisis, a dangerous new mutant strain of the mpox virus has been identified in the DRC. This strain, known as Clade 1a, is more infectious and potentially deadlier than previous versions of the virus, which is also known as monkeypox. The new strain carries a mutation called ‘APOBEC3’ that allows the virus to spread rapidly.

The mutant mpox strain was first detected in early 2025 in the country’s northern regions. Experts warn that this variant could spread beyond Africa, with global health authorities already on high alert.

Conflict and poor infrastructure hamper efforts

The DRC’s ongoing internal conflicts and fragile healthcare infrastructure are complicating efforts to contain the outbreaks.

Experts emphasize the need for international cooperation, rapid vaccine distribution, and effective public awareness campaigns to manage the crisis.

A looming global health threat?

The combination of a mysterious illness and the mutant mpox virus in the DRC could lead to significant global health challenges.

The WHO highlights the importance of cross-border information sharing, while experts call for a stronger international response to prevent the situation from spiraling into a larger crisis.