The outbreak of a mysterious disease in Congo may be linked to the malaria virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ten of the twelve people tested were found to have malaria, although doctors are considering that multiple diseases are at play at the same time.

The WHO received signals two weeks ago about an outbreak of an unknown disease in Congo, which is referred to there as disease X. According to the UN organization, there are now 416 known cases, and 31 people have died from the virus. Children under the age of 14 are said to have been particularly affected.

The health organization has sent a team of experts to Congo to help local aid workers combat the disease. Still, because the affected area in the west of the African country is difficult to access, it takes a long time for them to reach the patients.

WHO experts are conducting further investigations and testing more infected people to determine the exact cause of the disease.