Bukavu, Congo
Symptoms are similar to those of the flu. WHO is already preparing investigation into the mysterious disease.
The death toll due to “a disease of unknown origin”, first detected on October 24 in western Democratic Republic of the Congorose from 67 to 79, informed the Government. However, , which cites local authorities, guarantees this Tuesday that at least 143 people.
The disease affects the province of Kwango, more specifically the Panzi area, and has already affected 376 peopleinformed the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security in a statement, specifying that the Most of the dead are “children over 15 years old”.
However, women and children are most affected by the virus. Many die at home, without professional care.
The ministry warned of the “worrying situation in the area”, expressed “deep solidarity with the families affected by this tragedy” and sent “sincere condolences”.
Symptoms of the rare disease include fever, headache, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath e anemia.
To provide a “quick and effective response” to the outbreak, the department sent a rapid response team to the affected area. The mission will seek to ensure immediate treatment of reported cases, collect patient samples for laboratory analysis and carry out in-depth field investigations to identify the nature of the disease.
The results of the laboratory tests “will be communicated as soon as they are available and regular updates will be shared with the population and partners”, says the note.
Pending the results of ongoing investigations, the ministry urged the population to “keep calm” ea “be vigilant”.
He also called for strict adherence to preventive measures such as avoiding crowds, reporting suspected cases or unusual deaths to local health authorities and follow basic hygiene rules, including regular hand washing with soap and water.
Finally, the health authorities reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the population and working in close collaboration with national and international partners to provide “a rapid and effective response to this health crisis”.
DRCongo is already affected by the virus infection epidemic Monkeypox (mpox)with more than 47,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 suspected deaths of the disease in the Central African country, according to the World Health Organization.
