Top in ID: Unknown illness in Democratic Republic of the Congo; syphilis threat re-emerges
Local health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced that dozens have died and hundreds more are sick due to an unknown illness that causes influenza-like symptoms.
The Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security stated on X (formerly Twitter) that there have been 376 cases of the disease and 79 people have died from the infection. Most people who died were children aged 15 years and older. Symptoms of the illness include fever, headache, nasal congestion, cough, difficulty breathing and anemia.
Health officials in the DRC are encouraging residents to remain calm and uphold preventative measures by avoiding mass gatherings and maintaining basic hygiene.
It was the top story in infectious disease last week.
In another top story, syphilis — particularly congenital syphilis — has re-emerged as a significant public health concern, with the number of cases reaching levels not observed since the 1950s.
Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:
Flu-like disease of ‘unknown origin’ kills dozens in DRC, health authorities report
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. Read more.
Syphilis, pregnancy and penicillin allergies: Challenges, strategies and desensitization
Syphilis, an STI caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, has re-emerged as a major public health threat in the United States, with rates skyrocketing over the past decade. Read more.
Q&A: Waning smallpox immunity not the only cause of mpox surge in DRC
Waning smallpox immunity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has contributed to a significant increase in mpox cases over the last 15 years, but a study suggests there are also other causes for the virus’ rise in prominence. Read more.
Exposure to air pollutants may increase the persistent, long COVID risk
Greater exposure to particulate matter in the air may be linked to longer duration of long COVID symptoms, a population-based cohort analysis published in Environmental Health Perspectives showed. Read more.
Removing C. difficile from GI pathogen panels reduces unnecessary treatment
Researchers found that removing Clostridioides difficile from gastrointestinal pathogen panels reduced unnecessary treatment without causing delays in diagnosis. Read more.