The World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating an outbreak of a mysterious illness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with preliminary findings suggesting malaria and other known pathogens as possible causes.

On Tuesday, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, also said most of the samples tested positive for malaria, but noted it is possible that more than one disease was involved. He said further samples will be collected and tested.

Amid investigations into this mysterious disease, health officials have also had to respond to mpox outbreaks in the country.

Health officials revealed Congo's mysterious illness causing flu-like symptoms and dozens of deaths could be malaria.

Ten patients infected with the mystery illness spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo have tested positive for malaria, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

KINSHASA, Congo — Congo’s health minister said Thursday the government is on alert over a mystery flu-like disease that in recent weeks killed dozens of people. Authorities have so far confirmed 71 deaths, including 27 people who died in hospitals and 44 in the community in the southern Kwango province, health minister Roger Kamba said.

It is almost impossible to treat an illness like the Disease X that's spreading in DR Congo — medics don't even know whether it is a viral or bacterial infection. So far, the DRC has recorded 406 cases of the undiagnosed disease.