Congo’s government issued a general alert On Thursday, December 5th, over a mystery flu-like illness that has claimed the lives of at least 71 people, nearly half of whom were children. Health Minister Roger Kamba confirmed that the majority of deaths occurred in the southern Kwango province, where 44 people died in the community and 27 in hospitals. “The Congolese government is on general alert regarding this disease,” Kamba said, though he did not provide further details on its cause.
Since the outbreak began on November 10th, 2024, authorities have struggled to identify the illness, which presents symptoms such as fever, headache, cough, and anemia. Among the hospitalized victims, 10 died due to a lack of blood transfusions, while 17 others passed away from respiratory complications. “First diagnostics are leading us to think it is a respiratory disease,” said Jean Kaseya, the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “But we need to wait for the laboratory results.”
The disease is primarily affecting young people, with a significant number of victims between the ages of 16 and 18. In total, at least 300 people have been infected in Kwango province. Authorities in Congo have dispatched a team of epidemiologists to investigate, but the remote location of the Panzi health zone has made access difficult. Samples have been sent to a lab in Kikwit, more than 500 kilometers away, to confirm the nature of the disease.
The outbreak has raised concerns due to Congo’s ongoing health challenges, including the mpox epidemic that has already infected over 47,000 people and claimed more than 1,000 lives this year. The government began vaccinating people against mpox in October, but health experts are still wary about the implications of the new disease.
Lucien Lufutu, a local civil society leader, expressed concern about the lack of medical supplies in the region, highlighting the heavy reliance on traditional medicine. “There is a lack of medicines and medical supplies, since the disease is not yet known, most of the population is treated by traditional practitioners,” Lufutu said.
As experts work to identify the disease and curb its spread, the situation remains dire. Health authorities are urging the public to remain cautious and report any further cases.
