Another ‘pandemic-like’ situation has occurred in Southwest Congo where a flu-like disease has killed dozens of people over two weeks. A deadly flu-like illness has claimed dozens of lives over a two-week period. The fatalities, reported between November 10 and November 25, occurred in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province.
Symptoms of the deadly mystery illness include fever, headache, cough, and anaemia, according to provincial health minister Apollinaire Yumba. Deputy provincial governor Remy Saki stated on Tuesday that the death toll ranges between 67 and 143. “A team of epidemiological experts is expected to arrive in the area to collect samples and identify the cause of the outbreak,” Saki said.
Yumba urged the public to avoid contact with deceased bodies to prevent further spread and called for urgent medical assistance from national and international partners. Meanwhile, Congo continues to battle an ongoing Mpox epidemic, with over 47,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). A WHO representative confirmed that the organization is aware of the new outbreak and is working with local health officials to gather samples for analysis.
The representative spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, since January 1, 2024, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported over 47,000 suspected mpox cases.