A mystery illness that causes people to vomit blood has so far killed 15 people and hospitalized more than 50 others in Tanzania’s southern Mbeya region.

The New York Post reported that the illness killed mostly male patients within hours of them developing symptoms.

Expert medical teams have been deployed to the area to uncover the cause of the outbreak. 

While Authorities have ruled out epidemic such as Ebola which causes hemorrhagic fever, the outbreak of the unknown disease has triggered concern in the region.

Meanwhile, Felista Kisandu, Chief Medical Officer of the rural Chunya District in Mbeya, said the problem has not been widespread, taking place in a single administrative ward. 

She said samples of local water and patients’ blood are being tested by the government for traces of mercury contamination.

Tanzania borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where the world’s second largest Ebola outbreak was declared over two years ago.