For the past eight weeks, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been more than just a war zone. Amid ongoing violence, where civilians are being killed and women and children subjected to horrific abuse, the country now faces a growing health crisis.

A deadly outbreak of an unidentified illness has already claimed over 50 lives in the northwestern Équateur province, raising fears of another potential epidemic in a nation with fragile healthcare infrastructure.

The mysterious illness was first detected in January when three children in the remote village of Boloko reportedly consumed a bat. Shortly after, they exhibited severe symptoms, including high fever, fatigue, vomiting, and internal bleeding, before succumbing within 48 hours. Since then, the outbreak has escalated rapidly.