Symptoms of mystery new illness that killed 50 people within hours spark widespread concern

An unidentified virus that has reportedly killed more than 50 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo has caused widespread concern.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a statement that the outbreak 'poses a significant public health threat' following 'dozens of deaths' taking place 'within 48 hours', stemming from the village of Boloko.

The WHO warned that 'urgent action is needed' (Getty Stock Image)

Ebola and Marburg have already been ruled out, after a local health department report stated that three children under five reportedly ate a dead bat.

"In its northwestern Equateur Province, two clusters of cases and deaths from an unknown disease have emerged," the WHO said.

"Key challenges include the rapid progression of the disease, with nearly half of the deaths occurring within 48 hours of symptom onset in one of the affected health zones, and an exceptionally high case fatality rate in another."

Symptoms of the mystery illness in Congo

'Dozens of deaths' have taken place 'within 48 hours' (Getty Stock Image)

Patients reported symptoms of:

• Diarrhoea

• Fatigue

• Pain in the neck and joints

• Sweating

• Shortness of breath

• Intense thirst

• Persistent crying

Dr Zania Stamataki, an immunologist at the University of Birmingham in the UK, warned: "The symptoms shown in these infections are different to the alarming infections caused by severe malaria in the DRC at the end of last year.

"The time from symptom onset to death is 48 hours, which is very alarming."

She said: "We know that the patients tested negative for known hemorrhagic fever viruses such as Marburg and Ebola. Other hemorrhagic fever-causing pathogens are being investigated."

The illness is currently a mystery (Getty Stock Image)

The WHO added that 'urgent action is needed to accelerate laboratory investigations, improve case management and isolation capacities, and strengthen surveillance and risk communication'.

"The remote location and weak healthcare infrastructure increase the risk of further spread, requiring immediate high-level intervention to contain the outbreak," it said.

Dr Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton in the UK, said: "There is a huge amount of uncertainty about this outbreak.

"Outbreaks like this will happen many times around the world and are typically brought under control relatively quickly.

"However, here, it is concerning that we have hundreds of cases and over 50 deaths, with haemorrhagic-fever like symptoms widely reported among those cases."

He added: "Tests are never 100 percent accurate, and it is likely that with increased testing, we will have a confirmed pathogen in some of those samples.

"The lack of healthcare infrastructure in the DRC means the public health response is more complicated.

"However, the country has had mpox and Ebola outbreaks in recent times, so they are experienced at addressing infectious disease epidemics."