KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — A flu-like illness that has killed dozens of individuals over two weeks is being investigated in southwestern Congo, native authorities stated.
The deaths had been recorded between Nov. 10 and Nov. 25 within the Panzi well being zone of Kwango province. Symptoms embody fever, headache, cough and anaemia, provincial well being minister Apollinaire Yumba instructed reporters over the weekend.
The deputy provincial governor, Rémy Saki, instructed The Associated Press on Tuesday that between 67 and 143 individuals had died.
”A workforce of epidemiological specialists is predicted within the area to take samples and determine the issue,” he added.
Yumba suggested the inhabitants to train warning and chorus from contact with lifeless our bodies to keep away from contamination. He known as on nationwide and worldwide companions to ship medical provides to take care of the well being disaster.
Congo is already affected by the mpox epidemic, with greater than 47,000 suspected instances and over 1,000 suspected deaths from the illness within the Central African nation, in accordance with the World Health Organization.
WHO is conscious of the unidentified illness and has a workforce on the bottom working with native well being companies to gather samples, in accordance with a company worker who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he wasn’t approved to speak to the media.
