In The News: Flu-like Disease of ‘Unknown Origin’ Kills Dozens in DRC, Health Authorities Report

Healio reports on the unknown illness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that is causing influenza-like symptoms in hundreds of people and leading to some deaths. According to a December 3rd statement by the DRC Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security, 376 people have been infected since October 24.

There had been 79 deaths, with officials stating the majority of which were in children 15 years and older. The cause remains classified as ‘unknown origin’ with symptoms that include fever, headache, nasal congestion, difficulty breathing. It was identified in the country’s Kwango province.

Recent speculation has associated the unknown illness with malaria. Officials are urging residents to be vigilant and remain calm in the face of the illness. They have encouraged people to avoid mass gatherings, use basic hygiene to help protect themselves and to report cases and/or deaths to health authorities.

In an update from Reuters on Tuesday, officials say 143 are now dead from what is a severe form of malaria.

PIDS member and Global Health Committee chair Liz Schlaudecker commented on the story, “Very few details about the disease are currently known, though the World Health Organization has dispatched a team to the DRC to collect samples for laboratory investigations. The illness may be due to a more common infectious disease that is endemic to the area, like malaria.”