Flu-like illness that killed dozens in two weeks under investigation in southwest Congolocal authorities said.
The deaths were recorded between November 10 and 25 in the Panzi health zone, Kwango province. Symptoms include fever, headache, cough and anemia, provincial Health Minister Apollinaire Yumba told reporters over the weekend.
The province’s deputy governor, Rémy Saki, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that between 67 and 143 people had died.
“A team of epidemiology experts is expected in the region to take samples and identify the problem,” he added.
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Yumba advised the population to exercise caution and refrain from any contact with corpses to avoid any contamination. He called on national and international partners to send medical equipment to deal with the health crisis.
Congo is already in the grip of mpox epidemic, with more than 47,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 suspected deaths from the disease in the central African country, according to the World Health Organization.
The WHO is aware of the unidentified illness and has a team on the ground working with local health departments to collect samples, according to an employee of the organization who requested anonymity because it does not know was not authorized to speak to the media.
© 2024 The Canadian Press