A series of unidentified illnesses have resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people in Equateur province, located in northwestern Congo. Over the past five weeks, health officials have recorded 419 cases and 53 fatalities in two remote villages-Boloko and Bomate-separated by over 120 miles. Many victims succumbed to the disease within hours of experiencing symptoms.
Investigations and initial reports
Authorities are working to determine the origins and spread of these illnesses. The World Health Organization (WHO) has yet to establish a link between the outbreaks in the two villages, leaving health experts puzzled over potential causes and transmission modes.
The first recorded outbreak occurred in Boloko, where three children died within 48 hours of consuming a bat. Meanwhile, in Bomate, over 400 individuals have fallen ill, with some testing positive for malaria. Dr. Serge Ngalebato, the medical director at Bikoro Hospital, highlighted the stark differences between the two outbreaks, stating that the fatalities in Boloko remain an unusual situation requiring further investigation, whereas the Bomate cases align more closely with malaria.
What is ‘Crying Disease’ and what are its symptoms?
Although the disease remain unidentified, it is being named after the symptom it causes. Crying continuously is the first symptom. The Congolese Ministry of Health has reported that around 80% of affected individuals are experiencing fever, chills, body aches, and diarrhea. Other symptoms include joint and neck pain, excessive sweating, difficulty breathing, and extreme thirst in patients under 59 years old. Children, on the other hand, have displayed persistent crying as a primary symptom.
Initial fears suggested a hemorrhagic fever, such as Ebola or Marburg virus, due to the rapid decline in patients’ health. However, after testing more than a dozen samples, officials ruled out these diseases. Investigators are now considering alternative causes, including food or water poisoning, meningitis, viral hemorrhagic fever, malaria, and typhoid fever.
Challenges in containing the outbreak
The Congolese government deployed medical experts to the affected villages on February 14 to contain the outbreak and determine its root cause. However, the region’s remote location, coupled with inadequate healthcare infrastructure, has made it difficult to reach patients and effectively manage cases. The WHO has emphasised the urgency of the situation, calling for accelerated laboratory testing, improved case isolation, and enhanced disease surveillance.
Concerns over zoonotic transmission
The fact that the first known victims in Boloko had eaten a bat raises concerns about zoonotic diseases-those transmitted from animals to humans. WHO officials have noted a 60% increase in such outbreaks across Africa in the past decade, attributing it to increasing human-wildlife interactions in forested regions.
Congo, home to approximately 60% of the Congo Basin’s rainforests, remains highly vulnerable to zoonotic epidemics. Public health professor Gabriel Nsakala from Congo’s National Pedagogical University explained that the presence of dense forests creates an ongoing risk of viral mutations and emerging diseases.
International support and setbacks
The United States, a key contributor to Congo’s health sector, has been instrumental in training field epidemiologists to detect and contain disease outbreaks. However, the recent decision by the Trump administration to freeze foreign aid during a 90-day review could negatively impact Congo’s response efforts, limiting resources for outbreak containment and medical research.
As authorities continue to investigate, experts warn that the situation demands swift intervention to prevent further loss of life and control the spread of the disease. With Congo’s history of battling deadly outbreaks, including Ebola, health officials remain on high alert to ensure the crisis does not escalate further.
