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The outbreak in Central Africa has emerged in a northwestern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify the situation as "a significant public health threat."
Frontline medics from the WHO have reported hundreds of cases, revealing a chillingly brief timeline from symptom onset to death.
Since the outbreak began on Tuesday, Jan. 21, there have been 419 reported cases and 53 deaths, resulting in a mortality rate of 12.49 percent — substantially higher than that of COVID-19, which stands at 3.14 percent.
The WHO has raised alarms that another virus may have crossed species, posing a new and urgent threat to human health.
"The exact cause remains unknown, with Ebola and Marburg already ruled out, raising concerns about a severe infectious or toxic agent," 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.
"Urgent action is needed to accelerate laboratory investigations, improve case management and isolation capacities, and strengthen surveillance and risk communication."
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