The World Health Organization (WHO) is deploying experts to southwest Congo to investigate a mysterious flu-like illness that has resulted in dozens of deaths over recent weeks. WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, emphasized the urgency of identifying the illness, understanding its transmission, and responding appropriately.

Symptoms of the illness include fever, headache, cough, and anemia. Congo’s Health Minister Roger Kamba reported 71 deaths, including 27 in hospitals and 44 in the community, recorded in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province between November 10 and 25. Among 380 reported cases, nearly half involve children under five years old.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) provided slightly different figures, citing 376 cases and 79 deaths, attributing discrepancies to surveillance challenges. Africa CDC head Jean Kaseya noted preliminary diagnostics suggest a respiratory illness but emphasized the need for laboratory confirmation.

The Panzi health zone, located about 435 miles (700 kilometers) from Kinshasa, is remote and difficult to access. Epidemiological experts from Congo’s National Rapid Response Team needed two days to reach the area, and samples are being transported over 500 kilometers to Kikwit for analysis. The region, already grappling with malnutrition and past outbreaks of typhoid and seasonal flu, is particularly vulnerable.

Residents, including Oscar Kazwa, whose 28-year-old daughter recently succumbed to the disease, described symptoms like high fever, coughing, and weakness, with limited access to adequate care.

WHO experts are now working alongside the National Rapid Response Team in Panzi, delivering medicines, sample kits, and collaborating with community leaders to enhance disease surveillance and infection prevention. The team has been assisting Kwango’s health authorities since late November.

While Health Minister Kamba stated that the outbreak has not spread beyond Panzi, the WHO reported cases in seven of Kwango province’s 30 health zones. Efforts are ongoing to identify the illness and mitigate its impact.

(This story has been slightly reworked from an auto-generated PTI feed.)