Residents of the southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo are reeling from an unknown disease that has already claimed the lives of dozens of people in the space of two weeks. Local authorities confirmed that the deaths were recorded in the Panzi health zone, in Kwango province, between November 10 and 25. Provincial Health Minister Apollinaire Yumba told reporters that symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, cough and anemia.
Rémy Saki, the provincial deputy governor, told The Associated Press that the death toll was between 67 and 143 people. A team of epidemiology experts is expected in the region to take samples and determine the nature of the scourge, he added.
Yumba appealed to the population to exercise caution and avoid contact with dead bodies to limit the risk of contamination. He also called on national and international actors to help send necessary medical supplies to address this health crisis.
Congo is already grappling with another outbreak, namely the mpox disease, with more than 47,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 presumed deaths linked to this disease in Central Africa, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO is closely monitoring this unidentified disease and a team is on site to collaborate with local health services to collect samples, as stated by an employee of the organization on condition of anonymity, not authorized to speak to the media.