WHO Deploys Experts to Investigate Mysterious Disease in DR Congo
The World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched a team of specialists to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to investigate a mysterious flu-like illness that has infected nearly 400 people, primarily in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province. The outbreak has reportedly claimed between 30 and 143 lives, according to conflicting reports from WHO and local authorities.
Symptoms include headaches, fever, cough, breathing difficulties, and anemia, with women and children over 15 years being the most affected. Health expert Lawrence Gostin expressed concern over its rapid person-to-person transmission and its impact on people in their prime, unlike typical flu outbreaks that affect the very young or elderly.
The WHO team, comprising epidemiologists, laboratory technicians, and infection prevention experts, aims to identify the cause of the outbreak, rule out known pathogens like influenza, COVID-19, malaria, and measles, and strengthen the local response. Their efforts include case identification, patient treatment, and raising public awareness.
The remote location of Panzi, over 400 miles from the capital Kinshasa, poses logistical challenges, with limited road access and communication. Despite these obstacles, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, assured swift action to support affected families and communities.
The outbreak comes as the DRC continues to grapple with a weak healthcare system and civil unrest, which complicates efforts to contain the disease. Meanwhile, the country is also managing a severe mpox outbreak, with nearly 8,000 cases and over 380 deaths reported in 2024.
U.S. health authorities, including the CDC, are monitoring the situation and are prepared to offer additional support if required. Investigations are ongoing to determine the illness’s cause and transmission patterns.
