A mysterious disease with flu-like symptoms has killed at least 79 people and infected more than 300 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) since late October.
The disease, which remains unidentified, has been reported primarily in the Panzi health zone of Kwango Province, a rural area in the southwest of the country.
The illness is marked by fever, headaches, coughing, breathing difficulties, and anemia. Most of the fatalities have occurred among young people aged 15 to 18, though nearly 200 of the 376 reported cases involve children under five years old. Health officials were alerted to the outbreak on December 1, but the first cases were reported weeks earlier, on October 24.
The government has declared maximum alert and urged citizens to remain calm. Measures such as frequent handwashing, avoiding large gatherings, and refraining from handling deceased bodies without medical supervision have been recommended.
WHO sends Teams
Response teams, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), have been dispatched to Kwango Province. Samples from patients are being analyzed at a national laboratory in Kinshasa, with results expected soon.
Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said the government considers the outbreak a serious public health threat. Jean Kaseya, director of the Africa CDC, highlighted the need for stronger disease surveillance systems in the region, noting delays in detecting the outbreak.
International agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are assisting with epidemiological investigations and providing technical support.
Rural Region Poorly Affected
Panzi, the epicenter of the outbreak, faces significant challenges in responding to the disease. Hospitals in the region are poorly equipped, with shortages of medicines and medical supplies. Many patients rely on traditional healers, further complicating containment efforts.
Claude Niongo, a Panzi resident who lost his wife and daughter to the disease, described its impact: “We do not know the cause, but it starts with high fevers, vomiting, and then death. People are dying while authorities investigate.”
Local civil society leaders have called for urgent assistance to address the shortage of resources. Lucien Lufutu, president of the civil society consultation framework in Kwango Province, emphasized the need for medicines and medical supplies as the outbreak continues to spread to nearby areas, including Katenda.
This outbreak has raised fears about the potential emergence of a new pathogen, drawing parallels to the global response to COVID-19. It comes as the country also battles other health crises, including an ongoing mpox outbreak.
Health officials are expected to release preliminary findings about the disease’s cause in the coming days.
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