The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) declared a “maximum alert” on Thursday following the emergence of a mysterious illness that has killed dozens in just over a month.
The unidentified disease, which presents flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, and headaches, has been described by Congolese authorities as “an unknown public health event.” First detected in late October, cases have been confined to the remote Panzi region, located about 700 kilometers (435 miles) southeast of the capital, Kinshasa.
“We are on maximum alert; we consider this a public health epidemic requiring close monitoring,” Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said during a press briefing in Kinshasa.
According to Kamba, health centers in the region have reported 27 deaths, while an additional 44 deaths in the community may be linked but could involve other causes.
The Panzi region faces significant challenges, including limited road access, poor health infrastructure, and shortages of drinking water and medicine. Over 60 percent of residents suffer from malnutrition, with children being the most affected, making it one of the worst-affected areas in the country.
Preliminary data suggest the illness disproportionately impacts young children, with 40 percent of cases occurring in children under five. Epidemiologists have been deployed to the region to collect samples, but much remains unknown about the disease.
Specialists have ruled out COVID-19 and confirmed the illness affects the respiratory system, but it remains unclear whether it is viral or bacterial. “We don’t even know the mode of transmission,” said Africa CDC Chief Jean Kaseya.
Among the 27 deaths in health centers, 17 were due to respiratory distress, while 10 resulted from severe anemia requiring transfusions that were unavailable.
The DRC, one of the world’s poorest nations, is already grappling with an mpox outbreak that has caused more than 1,000 deaths in recent months. This new health crisis adds further strain to the country’s fragile healthcare system.
