Coverage dated February 24, 2025 to February 25, 2025

Over 400 sick and at least 50 dead from 'unknown disease' in Congo

Headline from ABC 13 Houston

Over 50 deaths have been linked to an "unknown disease" in the Democratic Republic of Congo since January.

ABC 13 Houston's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Read the reports

Reports & sources

26 articles, oldest first.

NBC New York
An unknown illness kills over 50 people in part of Congo with hours between symptoms and death (opens NBC New York)
Published Feb 24, 2025
NBC New York's feed description
An unknown illness has killed over 50 people in northwestern Congo, according to doctors on the ground and the World Health Organization on Monday.
Anchorage Daily News
Mysterious illness kills over 50 people in Congo, with 48 hours between first symptoms and death (opens Anchorage Daily News)
Published Feb 24, 2025
Anchorage Daily News's feed description
According to the World Health Organization, the first outbreak began after three children ate a bat and died following hemorrhagic fever symptoms.
Time
Mystery Illness Kills Dozens in Congo (opens Time)
Published Feb 24, 2025
Time's feed description
The interval between the onset of symptoms and death has been 48 hours in the majority of cases.
CNN
A mystery illness in Congo has killed more than 50 people hours after they felt sick (opens CNN)
Published Feb 24, 2025
CNN's feed description
An unknown illness first discovered in three children who ate a bat has rapidly killed more than 50 people in northwestern Congo over the past five weeks, health experts say.
New York Post
Mystery illness in Congo kills more than 50 people — just hours after they felt sick (opens New York Post)
Published Feb 24, 2025
New York Post's feed description
An unknown illness first discovered in three children who ate a bat has rapidly killed more than 50 people in northwestern Congo over the past five weeks, health experts say.
NBC4 Washington
Unknown illness kills more than 50 people in part of Congo with hours between symptoms and death (opens NBC4 Washington)
Published Feb 24, 2025
NBC4 Washington's feed description
An unknown illness has killed more than 50 people in northwestern Congo, according to doctors on the ground and the World Health Organization.
ABC 13 Houston
Over 400 sick and at least 50 dead from 'unknown disease' in Congo (opens ABC 13 Houston)
Published Feb 25, 2025
ABC 13 Houston's feed description
Over 50 deaths have been linked to an "unknown disease" in the Democratic Republic of Congo since January.
Live Science
Unidentified illnesses have killed over 50 people in Congo in last 5 weeks, WHO reports (opens Live Science)
Published Feb 25, 2025
Live Science's feed description
A yet-unidentified illness has killed 53 people and potentially infected hundreds more in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The World Health Organization is investigating the outbreak.
NBC News
Two clusters of unknown illness cases kill 50 in Democratic Republic of Congo (opens NBC News)
Published Feb 25, 2025
NBC News's feed description
More than 50 people have died in recent weeks in two clusters of illness cases with the unknown cause being investigated in northwest Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.
The Boston Globe
‘Unknown disease’ that can kill within days leaves 53 dead in Congo (opens The Boston Globe)
Published Feb 25, 2025
The Boston Globe's feed description
At least 431 cases have been reported since January of individuals suffering from fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, headaches and fatigue, according to the WHO’s Africa office.
The Week
Mystery illness spreading in Congo rapidly kills dozens (opens The Week)
Published Feb 25, 2025
The Week's feed description
The World Health Organization said 53 people have died in an outbreak that originated in a village where three children ate a bat carcass
Newsweek
Mystery Congo disease leaves 50 people dead: What we know (opens Newsweek)
Published Feb 25, 2025
Newsweek's feed description
The disease was first found in three children who died after eating a dead bat.
CBS News
A mystery disease in Congo has led to over 50 deaths. Here (opens CBS News)
Published Feb 25, 2025
CBS News's feed description
A mystery illness has caused over 50 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo. One of the outbreaks was preliminarily linked to children who had eaten a bat carcass.
WDIO Duluth
What we know about the illnesses that have sickened over 400 people and killed more than 50 in Congo (opens WDIO Duluth)
Published Feb 25, 2025
WDIO Duluth's feed description
Unidentified illnesses in northwestern Congo have killed more than 50 people over the past five weeks, nearly half of them within hours after they felt sick. The outbreaks in two distant villages in Congo’s Equateur province began on Jan. 21 and include 419 cases and 53 deaths.
Gizmodo
A Mystery Disease Has Killed Dozens So Far in Northwestern Congo (opens Gizmodo)
Published Feb 25, 2025
Gizmodo's feed description
WHO officials have identified two outbreaks of a mystery illness in the area that has sickened hundreds and killed over 50 people to date.
Voice of America
What we know about Congo illness that has sickened 400, killed 50 (opens Voice of America)
Published Feb 25, 2025
Voice of America's feed description
Health officials do not know the cause of the outbreaks, or whether the cases in the two remote villages are related

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.