Mysterious unknown illness kills 143 people leading to major warning from officials
Topics: Health, News, World News, Africa
Gerrard Kaonga
Featured Image Credit: GUERCHOM NDEBO/AFP via Getty Images / AUBIN MUKONI/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Health, News, World News, Africa
Since the Covid pandemic, new outbreaks of illness tend to cause a stir and authorities in the Congo have admitted to being concerned.
A mystery illness has resulted in health officials issuing a warning that people should avoid gathering in large groups in a community in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, people across the world have become more vigilant against deadly diseases, most notably ones that can spread quickly.
Health experts are hoping to uncover more information about this illness that has so far sickened a total of 376 people, while as many as 143 people have died.
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According to officials, patients are reportedly mostly people over 15-years-old and they are suffering from a flu-like illness with symptoms including a fever, headache, nasal discharge, cough, difficulty breathing and anaemia — or a lack of healthy red blood cells.
The outbreak has struck the Kwango province in the southwest of the country and the health ministry has warned people to wash their hands regularly with soap and water and not to touch dead bodies.
The outbreak reportedly begun in late October, but officials have said cases have risen rapidly within the last few weeks.
In an update about the illness the Health Ministry said: “Laboratory test results will be communicated as soon as they are available, and regular updates will be shared with the population and partners.
“Pending the conclusions of the ongoing investigations, the Ministry calls on the population to remain calm, vigilant and to strictly respect the... preventive measures.
“The ministry... expresses its deep compassion to the families affected by this tragedy and sends them its most sincere condolences.”
There have been concerns that the illness is tied to monkeypox or Ebola as the nation has struggled with the two diseases in recent years. However, according to experts, there is no clear link at this stage.
Infectious diseases expert and associate professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Dr Krutika Kuppalli, spoke to the Mail Online about the outbreak.
She said: “We need more information. The information that has been provided at present speaks of a number of diseases.”
She also addressed concerns related to Ebola and monkeypox.
She said: “In what they are reporting, we have not seen any reports of skin rash or skin abnormality — which would go with mpox.
“Typically, with viral hemorrhagic fever [like Ebola] you would hear reports of coughing or throwing up blood, and that has not been reported either.
“The reports are concerning, but we need more data and more information about the symptoms they are seeing on the ground.”