A new flu-like disease outbreak in southwestern Congo has raised concerns after dozens of deaths were reported over a two-week period. The fatalities occurred between November 10 and November 25 in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province. Symptoms of the illness include fever, headache, cough, and anemia, as stated by the provincial health minister.
Local authorities have confirmed that between 67 and 143 individuals have succumbed to the disease. In response to the situation, a team of epidemiological experts is being dispatched to the region to investigate further and collect samples for analysis.
The deputy provincial governor emphasized the importance of caution, advising the population to avoid contact with deceased individuals to prevent potential contamination. He also called for urgent assistance from national and international partners to provide necessary medical supplies to address the health crisis.
Adding to the challenges, Congo is already grappling with an ongoing mpox epidemic, which has resulted in over 47,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 suspected deaths across the country, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO is closely monitoring the unidentified disease outbreak and has deployed a team to collaborate with local health services in sample collection and analysis. The organization is working diligently to understand the nature of the new disease and implement appropriate measures to contain its spread.
