Deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Mysterious Outbreak
Deaths in the southwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from an as-yet unidentified disease are continuing to rise. So far there have been 71 confirmed fatalities, with 27 recorded in hospitals and 44 in communities in the southern province of Kwango. The World Health Organization (WHO) has sent a team of experts to the field to collect samples and conduct laboratory tests to try to identify the pathogen responsible.
The results of testing should be available either later today or tomorrow, Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a press conference earlier today. “Initial diagnoses lead us to think it is a respiratory disease, but we have to wait for laboratory results.” Of the hospitalized patients, 17 due to respiratory problems. Kaseya stressed that there are many aspects still unknown about the disease, including whether it is contagious and how it is transmitted. About 380 cases are thought to have been identified so far, with nearly half involving children under 5.
People infected with the mystery disease present with flu-like symptoms, such as coughing, vomiting, “high fever and severe headaches,” Remy Saki, deputy governor of Kwango province, and Apollinaire Yumba, the DRC’s provincial minister of health, told Reuters. Authorities are urging citizens to exercise caution and avoid contact with dead bodies to avoid potential contagion. The number of infected people, however, continues to rise, as does the alert level.
This area of the DRC is highly fragile from a health perspective, with 40 percent of residents suffering from malnutrition, and access to medical care being difficult for many, with medicines in short supply. This new outbreak is coinciding with the DRC grappling with an epidemic of mpox, which the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern in August.
This story originally appeared on WIRED Italia and has been translated from Italian.
FAQs
What is the current death toll from the unidentified disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
There have been 71 confirmed fatalities so far, with 27 recorded in hospitals and 44 in communities.
What symptoms do people infected with the mystery disease exhibit?
Infected individuals present with flu-like symptoms, including coughing, vomiting, high fever, and severe headaches.
How many cases of the unidentified disease have been identified?
About 380 cases are thought to have been identified, with nearly half involving children under 5.
What precautions are authorities urging citizens to take?
Authorities are advising people to avoid contact with dead bodies to prevent potential contagion.
What is the overall health situation in the affected area of the DRC?
The region is highly fragile, with 40 percent of residents suffering from malnutrition and limited access to medical care.
What is the WHO’s response to the outbreak?
The WHO has sent a team of experts to collect samples and conduct laboratory tests to identify the pathogen responsible for the disease.
What is the current alert level in the affected region?
The alert level continues to rise as the number of infected people increases.
What other health crisis is the DRC facing alongside this unidentified disease outbreak?
The DRC is also dealing with an epidemic of mpox, which was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO in August.
What are some of the unknown aspects of the unidentified disease?
There are uncertainties regarding whether the disease is contagious and how it is transmitted.
When are the results of the laboratory tests expected to be available?
The results should be available either later today or tomorrow, according to Jean Kaseya.