In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a mysterious illness has killed over 50 people, often within 48 hours of symptoms appearing. “There is an abnormally high fatality rate,” especially in one region where two-thirds of the infected have died, according to the WHO.

As of Monday, 419 cases have been reported, with 53 deaths, mostly in the Basankusu health zone. The disease is spreading in remote areas like Bolomba and Basankusu, where access to care is limited. Health officials warn the DRC’s “weak health care infrastructure boosts the risk of further spread.”

While some patients tested positive for malaria, all tested negative for Ebola and Marburg. Still, concern remains high due to the symptoms resembling hemorrhagic fevers. “The only hope of protecting Americans is to halt it at its source,” said Dr. Stephanie Psaki.

Experts say such outbreaks are rising across Africa—“over 60 percent more” in the last decade—mainly from animal-to-human transmission. These warnings come amid worries that recent cuts to U.S. global health ties, like banning CDC-WHO communications, increase global risk.
Despite the alarm, the CDC maintains that the international risk is currently “low.”