Flu-like disease of ‘unknown origin’ kills dozens in DRC, health authorities report
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Key takeaways:
- More than 300 people have been infected and 79 have died as of Dec. 3.
- The DRC’s Ministry of Public Health said the disease causes flu-like symptoms such as fever and headache.
An unknown illness that causes influenza-like symptoms has left dozens of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo dead and hundreds sick, according to local health officials.
On Tuesday, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security released a statement on X, formerly Twitter, stating that 376 people have been infected with the illness and 79 have died since October 24. Officials said that the majority of these deaths have been reported in children aged 15 years and older.
According to the statement, the illness is of a “still unknown origin” and has been identified in the DRC’s Kwango province. It causes influenza-like symptoms in those infected, including fever, headache, nasal congestion, cough, difficulty breathing and anemia.
While health officials wait for the results of their ongoing investigations, they are urging residents to be calm, vigilant and “strictly respect the relevant preventive measures,” which include avoiding mass gatherings, reporting unusual cases or deaths to health authorities and observing basic hygiene such as regularly washing hands with soap and water.
References:
- Worrying situation in the Panzi health zone, Kwango Province. Posted by the Health Ministry of the DRC on X, formerly known as Twitter. Published Dec. 3, 2024. Accessed Dec. 5, 2024.
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