Mysterious Illness Claims 143 Lives in Congo

An unidentified disease has claimed the lives of 143 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), sparking significant concern from the World Health Organization (WHO). Victims exhibited flu-like symptoms such as high fever and severe headaches, with women and children being the most severely affected, according to local authorities. The fatalities have been reported in Kwango province, located in the southwest of the DRC near the border with Angola. Provincial deputy governor Remy Saki and health minister Apollinaire Yumba stated that health officials are currently collecting samples and conducting analyses to identify the cause of the outbreak.

Officials describe the situation as "extremely worrying," noting that the death toll is rising rapidly. By November 25, 67 deaths had already been reported. Many patients are succumbing to the illness at home, struggling to access medical care. This outbreak comes as the DRC also grapples with a monkeypox epidemic. So far, health officials have not released test results, and it remains unclear if the victims have been ruled out for other common diseases.

The exact cause of the outbreak remains unknown, but the DRC has faced more than 12 Ebola outbreaks in the past. Ebola, a virus often transmitted from fruit bats, initially presents with flu-like symptoms before progressing to nausea, bleeding, and neurological complications. In a 2019 outbreak, the DRC recorded over 3,250 cases and 2,100 deaths.