The mysterious outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has caused serious concern among local health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO). With 143 reported deaths, the illness is rapidly spreading in Kwango province and along the border with Angola.
The following are the key details:
Symptoms and Impact
Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms including high fever and severe headaches.
Affected groups: Women and children appear to be the most severely affected.
Current conditions: Patients are often dying at home, unable to access treatment facilities.
Testing and Investigations
Samples collected: Health officials are analyzing samples to identify the disease, but no confirmed results have been announced yet.
Ebola concern: Given DRC’s history of over 12 Ebola outbreaks, it remains a potential cause, though there is no confirmation.
Monkeypox in DRC: The country is also dealing with a monkeypox outbreak, adding to the health crisis.
Escalating Situation
Deaths increased from 67 on November 25 to 143, indicating the rapid progression of the outbreak.
Local officials, including Deputy Governor Remy Saki and Health Minister Apollinaire Yumba, have described the situation as “extremely worrying.
Officials say the situation is ‘extremely worrying’ and that the death toll is rising rapidly. On November 25, they had reported 67 de@ths from the disease.
Patients suffering from the illness are reportedly dying in their own homes and struggling to receive treatment. The DRC is also currently facing a monkeypox outbreak.
Health officials are yet to report any results from the tests, and it is not clear whether patients have tested negative for other common diseases.
It is not clear what disease could be causing the deaths, but the DRC has now battled more than 12 outbreaks of Ebola.
The virus, which can be caught from fruit bats, causes a flu-like illness before patients suffer from nausea, bleeding, and brain problems. In one outbreak declared in 2019, more than 3,250 cases and 2,100 deaths were reported.
