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.

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.

Analysis - A "mystery disease" recently struck the south-western corner of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killing between 67 and 143 people over two weeks. The disease was reported to cause flu-like symptoms of fever,

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

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.