Congo Faces Health Crisis as Mysterious Illness Claims 71 Lives in Kwango Province
Health officials in Congo have expressed concern over a mysterious flu-like illness that has claimed at least 71 lives in the southern Kwango province. The fatalities, reported between November 10 and 25 in the Panzi health zone, include 27 hospital deaths and 44 community fatalities.
Congolese Minister of Public Health, Roger Kamba, noted that it is too soon to identify the illness or determine how it spreads. “It appears to be a respiratory-type illness,” he said cautiously. “We received the alert just a few days ago, so it’s unrealistic to expect answers about the mode of transmission in such a short time.”
Of the hospital deaths, 10 were linked to a lack of blood transfusions, while 17 were caused by respiratory complications. The illness has impacted approximately 380 individuals, nearly half of whom are children under five. Common symptoms include fever, headache, cough, and anemia.
Dr. Diedonne Mwamba, Director General of Congo’s National Institute of Public Health, pointed to underlying factors like severe malnutrition—affecting 40% of the population in the region—and a history of typhoid epidemics as challenges complicating the situation. “We are on high alert and must confirm if this is a respiratory infection,” he stated.
The Panzi health zone, located about 435 miles (700 kilometers) from the capital, Kinshasa, presents logistical hurdles for the investigation. Epidemiologists are currently in the area collecting samples to identify the cause, with results expected in the coming days, according to Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Adding to the strain on Congo’s healthcare system is an ongoing mpox outbreak, with over 47,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 deaths.
Health authorities have urged vigilance as investigations into the unidentified illness continue, emphasizing the importance of timely diagnostics and intervention.
Comments