The World Health Organization (WHO) is sending experts to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to investigate a deadly disease outbreak in the Kwango province. They will provide medical supplies and diagnostic tools to help determine the cause of the outbreak.
The WHO is conducting laboratory tests to identify the disease and is prioritizing support for affected communities. They promise to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
“All efforts are underway to identify the cause of the illness, understand its modes of transmission and ensure appropriate response as swiftly as possible,” said Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s regional director for Africa.
According to the WHO, the disease outbreak in the Panzi health zone of Kwango has caused 394 cases and 30 deaths. Earlier, the local authorities reported that an unidentified illness had claimed the lives of 143 individuals in November.The symptoms include headache, cough, fever, breathing difficulties, and anemia.
The mysterious disease outbreak in DR Congo affects mostly children, a WHO investigation finds.
The undiagnosed disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is raising serious health concerns, particularly among children and severely malnourished individuals, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed this in a recent update.
The WHO reported 406 cases and 31 deaths between October 24 and December 5 in the Panzi health zone of Kwango Province.
The illness is characterized by fever, headache, cough, runny nose, and body aches, but its cause remains unknown. The WHO highlighted that all severe cases involved severely malnourished patients, with the majority of reported cases being children under five.
“The area is rural and remote, with access further hindered by the ongoing rainy season. These challenges, coupled with limited diagnostics in the region, have delayed the identification of the underlying cause,” the WHO said, noting the prevalence of malaria in the region and suggested that it may be a contributing factor, or that multiple diseases could be involved.
Local authorities previously reported 143 deaths in November from an unidentified illness with similar symptoms, including breathing difficulties and anemia. This prompted the WHO to dispatch experts to investigate the outbreak and determine the underlying cause.
Sputnik Africa
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