A disease of “unknown origin” kills several dozen people in the Democratic Republic of Congo

A medical team has been sent to the infected health zone, while tests are awaited to identify the disease.

A disease whose origin is “still unknown” has killed at least 79 people since the end of October in Kwango province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country's Ministry of Health announced on Facebook, Wednesday, December 4. This region is located in the west of the country, on the border with Angola and not far from the capital Kinshasa.

Remy Saki, vice-governor of the province, interviewed Tuesday evening by the German media DW and the American agency Associated Press, mentioned a different toll, including, as of December 2, between 67 and 143 deaths.

Infected people had flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, cough, runny nose, difficulty breathing and anemia. A medical team was sent to the site to collect samples and carry out an analysis to identify the disease, announced the DRC government.

According to the local vice-governor, specific measures have been taken. “For example, immigration officials were asked to be able to limit the movements of populations and also to record the entries and exits of populations, people who come from surrounding villages”the manager explained to DW.

On Facebook, the DRC Ministry of Health advises“avoid mass gatherings”of “report any suspected cases or unusual deaths to local health authorities”d’“observe basic hygiene, including regular hand washing with soap and water” et “not to handle the remains without the intervention of authorized health workers”.