Unknown Bat-linked Illness Claims 50 Lives in Congo
A mysterious disease associated with bat consumption has claimed more than 50 lives in northwestern Congo. The outbreak began five weeks ago in Boloko Village, when three children died within 48 hours of bat eating, raising concerns about a new zoonotic threat. The patient showed bleeding symptoms such as fever, vomiting and internal bleeding, which initially caused suspicion of Ebola or Marburg. However, testing of more than a dozen samples excludes known bleeding viruses. There have been 419 cases and 53 deaths since January 21, and this rapid, deadly outbreak further highlights the growing risk of the disease jumping from animals to humans.
source: CNN
