The average time between the onset of symptoms and death is 48 hours, which has caused significant concern. Dr. Serge Ngalebato, the medical director of Bikoro Hospital and a regional monitoring center, shared this information with The Associated Press.

The latest disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo began on Jan. 21, with a total of 419 cases recorded, including 53 deaths.

According to the WHO’s Africa office, the first outbreak occurred in the town of Boloko after three children consumed a bat and subsequently died within 48 hours, displaying symptoms of hemorrhagic fever.

There has been long-standing concern about the transmission of diseases from animals to humans in regions where consumption of wild animals is common. The WHO reported a 60% increase in such outbreaks in Africa over the past decade.

Following the second outbreak of the current mystery disease in the town of Bomate on Feb. 9, samples from 13 cases have been sent to the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, for testing, the WHO stated.

All samples have tested negative for Ebola or other common hemorrhagic fever diseases like Marburg. However, some samples have tested positive for malaria.

Last year, another flu-like illness that claimed numerous lives in a different part of Congo was determined to be likely malaria.