Unidentified Illness in Congo's Kwango Province Claims 31 Lives, Over 400 Cases Reported

Dec 8, 2024, 10:05 PM

An unidentified illness has caused the deaths of at least 31 people and affected over 400 others in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Kwango province since late October. The World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched a rapid response team to investigate the outbreak, which was first declared on October 25 in the remote Panzi health zone and has now spread to nine health areas. The disease presents symptoms similar to influenza, including fever, headache, cough, runny nose, body aches, difficulty breathing, and anemia. The case fatality ratio stands at 7.6%. Children under the age of 15 account for 64.3% of reported cases, with 71% of the deaths occurring in this age group. Females constitute 59.9% of the total cases. All severe cases have been reported as severely malnourished, and cases are being reported in family clusters, suggesting possible household transmission. The outbreak response is challenged by the region's isolation, poor road conditions, seasonal rains, and limited telecommunications. Health authorities are working to identify the cause, considering known diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, or measles exacerbated by severe malnutrition.