WHO Investigates as Mystery Illness Kills Up to 131 in DR Congo's Kwango Province

Dec 6, 2024, 02:06 PM

A mystery illness with flu-like symptoms has killed dozens in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Kwango province, prompting the government to declare a maximum alert. The disease, which presents with fever, headache, cough, runny nose, body aches, anemia, and in severe cases, difficulty breathing, has affected mostly young people, including children under five who represent 40% of cases. Health Minister Roger Kamba stated that the government is closely monitoring the situation and considers it an epidemic that must be watched closely. The World Health Organization is deploying experts to the remote region, bringing medicine and testing equipment to investigate and identify the pathogen. The disease has spread to seven of the province's 30 health zones, with reports of up to 131 deaths among 382 suspected cases. Samples have been sent for testing, transported over 500 kilometers due to the remote location, and results are expected soon.