Dozens Killed by Unknown Disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo

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Facts

• An unidentified flu-like illness has resulted in at least 79 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Health Ministry reports. The deaths were reported between Nov. 10 and Nov. 25 in a rural area in the southwestern part of the country. The majority of those who died were teenagers between 15 and 18.^[1]
• Over 300 people have contracted the infection, exhibiting symptoms like fever, headaches, runny noses, coughing, breathing issues, and anemia, according to provincial health officials.^[2]
• Rémy Saki, the deputy provincial governor, told reporters that as many as 143 people might have actually perished from the disease. Response teams of epidemiological experts have been dispatched to Kwango Province to collect samples.^[3]
• Health officials encourage the public to report any suspicious illnesses or unexpected deaths. The health ministry urged the public to avoid mass gatherings and to follow basic hygiene regulations, such as washing their hands with soap and water.^[4]
• The Panzi health zone is a remote area with limited health care. People have died in their own homes owing to a lack of medical treatment.^[5]
• The World Health Organization (WHO) stated it is assisting Congolese officials in understanding the situation. Recently, the DRC, one of the world's poorest countries, has recorded over 1K deaths from mpox.^[6]

Sources: ^[1]BBC News, ^[2]Euronews, ^[3]Associated Press, ^[4]NBC, ^[5]Guardian and ^[6]ScienceAlert.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Ncbi and ABC News. Once again, the DRC is the epicenter of a disease of unknown origin, as the country is already on full alert to combat the mpox epidemic. Scientists believe that the absence of safe drinking water, insufficient health facilities, and civil unrest are potential stressors at the local level. The WHO is looking into the outbreak, and health officials advise the public to remain calm, exercise good hygiene, and avoid large gatherings.
• Narrative B, as provided by Sky News and The Mirror. The DRC's weak healthcare infrastructure — combined with a segment of the population grappling with underlying health issues like malaria and malnutrition — may ultimately hinder the diagnosis of this new disease for the global health community. Time is of the essence with worries of a zoonotic spillover event with looming regional and even broader implications.

Predictions