Situation at a glance On 9 February 2025, officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported to regional health authorities a cluster of 24 unexplained community deaths in a single village in Ekoto health area, Basankusu health zone, Equateur province . As of 25 February, a total of 53 deaths have been reported , with the last death occurring on 22 February. Deaths have occurred in all age groups , but adolescents and young adults , particularly males , appeared to be disproportionately affected in the initial cluster reported. Disease progression appeared to be fast , with a median time from onset of symptoms to death of one day . Given the rapid decline in the incidence of reported deaths, their geographic clustering, the age profile of deaths and the rapid disease progression in the initial cluster, working hypotheses include chemical poisoning or a rapid onset bacterial meningitis cluster , on a background of malaria and other infectious illnesses end...