Strange disease kills more than 50 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo

An unidentified disease has killed more than 50 people in the northwestern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to information from doctors at the scene and the World Health Organization (WHO) on February 25.

"The time from onset of symptoms to death is 48 hours in most cases, and that is really worrying," said Serge Ngalebato, medical director of Bikoro Hospital, the regional surveillance centre.

The outbreak began on January 21 and has recorded 419 cases, including 53 deaths.

The first outbreak in the town of Boloko began after three children ate bat meat and died within 48 hours of developing dengue fever symptoms, according to the WHO's Africa office.

According to WHO, after the second outbreak of the mysterious disease began in the town of Bomate on February 9, samples from 13 cases were sent to the National Institute of Biomedical Research in the capital Kinshasa of the Democratic Republic of Congo for testing.

All samples tested negative for Ebola or other common hemorrhagic fevers such as Marburg. Some samples tested positive for malaria.

Last year, another mysterious illness with flu-like symptoms killed dozens of people in another part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and was determined to be likely malaria.