An unidentified flu-like illness has claimed 143 lives in two weeks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, local authorities reported earlier this week. The World Health Organization (WHO) has now deployed a team of experts to the affected region to investigate the deadly outbreak.
The outbreak has been concentrated in Panzi, a locality in the remote southwestern Kwango province. WHO officials are delivering essential medicines and diagnostic kits to assist local health authorities in identifying the cause of the illness.
“Our priority is to provide effective support to the affected families and communities,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s regional director for Africa. “All efforts are underway to identify the cause of the illness, understand its modes of transmission, and ensure an appropriate response as swiftly as possible,” she added.
According to the WHO, 394 cases and 30 deaths have been officially reported in the Panzi health zone. Symptoms of the illness include headache, cough, fever, breathing difficulties, and anaemia. Laboratory tests are ongoing to determine the disease’s origins, and further updates are expected.
Congo, already grappling with a severe mpox epidemic, faces heightened challenges in its public health response. WHO data shows over 47,000 suspected mpox cases and more than 1,000 deaths in the country.
As the investigation progresses, WHO has pledged to share more information and support the community’s immediate medical needs.
