Local health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo said an ‘unknown disease’ has killed 143 people.
According to Reuters, infected individuals had “flu-like symptoms, including high fever and severe headaches.”
“Women and children are hit hardest, and the cause remains a mystery. The outbreak is centered in Panzi, a rural area with medicine shortages, leaving many to die at home,” Mario Nawfal noted.
“A medical team is collecting samples while the WHO and Congo’s health ministry investigate,” he added.
MYSTERY DISEASE KILLS 143 IN DR CONGO—CAUSE UNKNOWN
A deadly illness in DR Congo’s Kwango province has claimed 143 lives, with victims suffering high fevers, severe headaches, and flu-like symptoms.
Women and children are hit hardest, and the cause remains a mystery.
The… pic.twitter.com/lm75mxVk2f
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 3, 2024
Per Reuters:
The situation is extremely worrying as the number of infected people continues to rise, civil society leader Cephorien Manzanza told Reuters.
“Panzi is a rural health zone, so there is a problem with the supply of medicines,” Manzanza said.
ADVERTISEMENTSick people die in their own homes for lack of treatment, Saki and Yumba said.
A local epidemiologist said women and children were the most seriously affected by the disease.
A WHO spokesperson said on Tuesday the UN health agency had been alerted to the presence of the disease last week, and it was working alongside Congo’s public health ministry to make further investigations.
Statement from DR Congo’s Health Ministry on unidentified illness:
OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUÉ
Concerning situation in the Panzi health zone, Kwango provinceSince October 24, 2024, a disease of still unknown origin has been spreading in Kwango province, specifically in the Panzi…
— BNO News (@BNOFeed) December 4, 2024
Statement from DR Congo’s Health Ministry on unidentified illness:
OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUÉ
Concerning situation in the Panzi health zone, Kwango provinceSince October 24, 2024, a disease of still unknown origin has been spreading in Kwango province, specifically in the Panzi health zone. To date, this disease has caused the death of 79 people, most of whom are children over 15 years old, and has affected 376 individuals.
The reported symptoms among patients include:
• Fever
• Headache
• Nasal discharge and cough
• Difficulty breathing
• AnemiaThe Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene, and Social Welfare expresses its deep sympathy to the families affected by this tragedy and offers them its sincerest condolences.
To provide a rapid and effective response to this concerning situation, the Ministry, through the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) and the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (COUSP), has dispatched a rapid response team to the affected area. The mission of this team is to:
ADVERTISEMENT1. Ensure immediate care for reported cases.
2. Collect samples from patients for laboratory analysis.
3. Conduct in-depth investigations in the field to identify the nature of this disease.The results of laboratory analyses will be communicated as soon as they are available, and regular updates will be shared with the public and partners.
While awaiting the conclusions of the ongoing investigations, the Ministry urges the population to remain calm, stay vigilant, and strictly adhere to the following preventive measures:
1. Avoid mass gatherings.
2. Report any suspected cases or unusual deaths to local health authorities.
3. Observe basic hygiene rules, including regular handwashing with soap and water.
4. Do not handle deceased bodies without the intervention of authorized health personnel.The Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene, and Social Welfare reaffirms its commitment to protecting the population and working closely with national and international partners to provide a rapid and effective response to this health crisis.
Irish aid workers are monitoring a mystery illness that may have killed more than 140 people in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Read more here:https://t.co/GNyoOzCjg8— TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie) December 4, 2024
From the Associated Press:
The deaths were recorded between Nov. 10 and Nov. 25 in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province. Symptoms include fever, headache, cough and anaemia, provincial health minister Apollinaire Yumba told reporters over the weekend.
ADVERTISEMENTThe deputy provincial governor, Rémy Saki, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that between 67 and 143 people had died.
”A team of epidemiological experts is expected in the region to take samples and identify the problem,” he added.
Yumba advised the population to exercise caution and refrain from contact with dead bodies to avoid contamination. He called on national and international partners to send medical supplies to deal with the health crisis.
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