Unknown disease kills 143 people in Panzi, Southwestern Congo

Between November 10 and November 25, a flu-like disease claimed the lives of 143 people in Kwango province, located in the southwestern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The local authorities have confirmed the deaths were caused by an unknown disease. Infected people had flu-like symptoms, including high fever and severe headaches, Remy Saki, Kwango Province Deputy Governor, and Apollinaire Yumba, provincial minister of health, said on Monday.

According to Reuters, a medical team has been deployed to the Panzi health zone to collect samples and carry out an analysis to know the root cause of the disease.

Civil Society leader, Cephorien Manzanza, expressed concerns over the increase in number of the infected people.

“Panzi is a rural health zone, so there is a problem with the supply of medicines,” Manzanza stated.

Saki and Yumba said that people have been dying in their homesteads for lack of treatment. “A team of dermatological experts is expected in the region to take samples and identify the problem,” he added.

A local epidemiologist said women and children were the most seriously affected by the disease.

Yumba advised the population to exercise caution and refrain from contact with dead bodies to avoid contamination. He further called on national and international partners to send medical supplies to deal with the health crisis.

A spokesperson for the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated on Tuesday that the UN health agency had been notified of the unidentified disease and was collaborating with Congo's Ministry of Public Health to conduct further investigations.

The WHO also reported that Congo is already dealing with the Mpox epidemic, which has led to more than 47,000 suspected cases and over 1,000 suspected deaths.

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