A flu-like illness has been responsible for a series of deaths in southwestern Congo, with local authorities investigating the cause. Between November 10 and 25, the Panzi health zone in Kwango province saw an alarming number of fatalities, attributed to symptoms such as fever, headache, cough, and anemia. Provincial Health Minister Apollinaire Yumba confirmed these details, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The death toll remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from 67 to 143, according to Deputy Provincial Governor Rémy Saki. To address the growing crisis, a team of epidemiological experts has been dispatched to the region to collect samples and determine the nature of the illness. In the meantime, health officials are urging residents to avoid contact with deceased bodies in order to reduce the risk of contamination.
Yumba has also called for the mobilization of medical supplies from both national and international sources to assist with the ongoing health crisis. This outbreak comes on the heels of Congo’s ongoing battle with the mpox epidemic, which has already claimed over 1,000 lives and affected more than 47,000 people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO is aware of the situation and has deployed a team to support local health services in collecting samples and monitoring the outbreak. An anonymous WHO source confirmed that the organization is actively engaged in investigating the cause of the unidentified disease.
