The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has declared a state of maximum alert following the outbreak of a mysterious illness that has killed dozens of people since late October.
The disease, described by authorities as an “unknown public health event,” manifests flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and headaches. It has so far been confined to the Panzi region, approximately 700 kilometers southeast of Kinshasa, the nation’s capital.
Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba announced the alert during a press briefing in Kinshasa on Thursday, stating, “We are on maximum alert; we consider this to be an epidemic-level event requiring close monitoring.”
Kamba reported that health centers have recorded 27 fatalities, with an additional 44 deaths reported in the community. However, he noted that the cause of some of these deaths might differ from the mysterious illness.
Access to the affected region is severely hampered by poor road infrastructure, a lack of drinking water, and limited healthcare facilities. Additionally, over 60% of the local population suffers from malnutrition, particularly children, placing them at heightened risk.
The health minister highlighted that the Panzi region has previously endured severe outbreaks, including a typhoid fever epidemic two years ago. Early data from the current outbreak indicate that younger people are disproportionately affected, with 40% of cases involving children under five years old.
Epidemiologists have been dispatched to the region to collect samples and investigate the disease further as authorities intensify efforts to contain the outbreak.
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