Unknown Disease in DRC: Experts Work to Identify the Pathogen
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have deployed specialists to Kwango province to rapidly identify the pathogen responsible for an unknown disease that is spreading in the region, as announced by the Ministry of Health.
“A team of experts from the National Institute of Public Health and the Emergency Health Operations Center has been sent to Kwango to conduct tests on affected individuals and perform comprehensive studies to determine the nature of the illness,” the ministry stated, according to the Congolese news site Actualité.
The results of laboratory analyses will be released promptly. The ministry urges the public to remain calm, follow preventive measures, and, above all, avoid crowded places. A free hotline has also been established in the region for assistance.
The first cases of the disease were confirmed on October 24 in Kwango. To date, over 140 people have died, with a total of 376 reported infections. The illness is characterized by fever and severe headaches, with women and children being particularly vulnerable.
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about the emergence of this disease in Kwango.
