The COVID-19 pandemic is essentially a scourge of the past, although it has not been defeated completely.

Unfortunately, though, what is happening at this time in Africa’s Democratic Republic of Congo, if it remains a mystery for very long and remains unchecked, could evolve into something even more horrific than the horrors that COVID-19 inflicted.

This country must mobilize whatever protective measures and resources it can muster to try to ensure that Africa’s current challenge never reaches America’s shores.

But even those most optimistic regarding America’s capabilities are not reluctant to express pessimism about the possibilities for success on that front. People from Africa travel to America most, if not all, days of the year, and it will be impossible to erect a physical barrier to keep away Africa’s new and frightening challenge that exacts its deadly toll quickly and mercilessly.

Probably what is most troubling is that no one has been able yet to state positively how the yet-to-be-identified disease is transmitted, but a possible link to bats is being probed.

Meanwhile, Matteo Bassetti, a professor of infectious diseases at Italy’s University of Genoa, was quoted in the Feb. 28 edition of the Wall Street Journal as saying “this could be a new virus that has never been discovered.”

The Journal article said the disease, which causes uncontrolled bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms of hemorrhagic fever, had infected 1,096 people and killed 60 as of Feb. 23.

“The disease was discovered in three children in the remote Equateur Province in January,” the Journal article says. “The children vomited blood, suffered nosebleeds and died within two days.

“A few weeks later, a second and larger outbreak was recorded 100 miles away in the village of Bomate, where hundreds of people are ill. Some 141 fell sick with the illness in a single week, the World Health Organization said,” with nearly half dying within 48 hours of showing symptoms.

About those three children who died: All died within 48 hours of eating a bat.

Much of Congo is heavily forested, and villagers regularly eat wild animals, the Journal said.

That is the basis of another concern. It is that the link to bats is triggering fears about more diseases spreading from animals to humans.

The World Health Organization has issued a statement calling the mystery illness a “significant public health threat.”

It is important that America takes notice of the illness in question, not with the intent now of causing panic but, instead, just to let people know that something is “out there” and people of this country must start paying attention to what is happening on that front.

According to the Journal, the Congolese and WHO still are trying to figure out how the disease is transmitted, but with the tie to bats tentatively identified, there is at least a starting point from which investigative work can branch out.

There is no question that millions of Americans were caught off-guard when COVID-19 began exacting its deadly toll. That must not be repeated this time, if evidence ever indicates that this mystery disease has moved beyond Africa.

Many Americans are among the world’s people who believe that, having experienced COVID-19, a scourge of the past, this country and others will be more ready for whatever the future might hold.

The Trump Administration must ensure that, if necessary, that actually happens here.