Kinshasa, 28 February (IANS). Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) team is investigating a new disease case and the death of local people. The case has come to light in the Equator province, where 1,096 people have become ill so far and 60 have died.
Recently, 141 new patients have been found in the Basankusu health sector of this province, although no one died this time. In February, 158 people were ill in the same area, out of which 58 lost their lives. In January, there were 12 cases in the Bolomba region of the same province, out of which eight were killed.
According to WHO, a total of 1,096 sick patients and 60 deaths have been confirmed in Basankusu and Bolomba so far. Symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, neck stiffness, cough, vomiting, diarrhea and nose bleeding have been seen in patients.
According to the Xinhua News Agency report, the national level emergency team and WHO experts have been sent to the affected areas, given the seriousness of the situation. They are working to detect the cause of the disease and provide medical help to the patients immediately.
Initial investigation rejected the possibility of Ebola and Marburg viruses. However, malaria has been confirmed in more than half of samples. Other possible diseases, such as meningitis, and environmental causes are under investigation.
Lack of basic facilities in the region and limited access to health services are facing difficulties in relief work.
At the end of 2024, a “mysterious disease” was also spread in the DRC’s southwest province of Quango, which was later found to be associated with severe malaria and malnutrition. In January 2025, a government report had 2,774 cases and 77 deaths.
Along with this disease, DRC is already facing many health crises, causing its health system to become more weakened.
In addition, the increasing armed conflict in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces of the country has worsened the situation. It has become difficult to help with incidents such as looting, attacks on relief workers and road blockade.
-IANS
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