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The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is grappling with an outbreak of an undiagnosed disease that has affected 406 people and claimed 31 lives, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The cases were reported between October 24 and December 5 in the Panzi health zone of Kwango Province.
The DRC’s Ministry of Public Health alerted WHO on November 29 about an increase in deaths from an unknown cause in the area. The global health agency has since dispatched experts to investigate the outbreak, which manifests with symptoms such as fever, headache, cough, runny nose, and body aches.
“All severe cases were reported to be severely malnourished,” the WHO stated, underscoring the vulnerability of affected individuals. Among the 31 fatalities, 71% were children under 15, with the majority being under five years old.
Challenges in Outbreak Response
Efforts to identify the disease and contain its spread have been hampered by several factors. The Panzi health zone is a remote, rural area, where access is further complicated by the ongoing rainy season and limited medical diagnostic capabilities.
WHO teams on the ground are collecting samples for laboratory testing and conducting community-level case searches. “Rapid response teams have been deployed to identify the cause of the outbreak and strengthen the response,” the WHO reported.
Potential Causes Under Investigation
The WHO suspects the involvement of multiple factors, including acute pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, measles, and malaria, with malnutrition playing a critical role in exacerbating the situation. “Laboratory tests are underway to determine the exact cause,” the agency added, noting that more than one disease might be contributing to the high number of cases and deaths.
A Health Crisis in Need of Urgent Action
This outbreak highlights the fragility of healthcare infrastructure in remote areas and the compounded challenges posed by malnutrition and limited resources. The WHO’s ongoing investigations and response efforts aim to provide a clearer understanding of the outbreak and pave the way for effective intervention measures.
As the situation evolves, global attention remains focused on mitigating the spread of the illness and addressing the underlying health vulnerabilities in the affected communities.
