A flu-like illness that has killed dozens over two weeks in southwestern Congo is being investigated, local authorities said.
The deaths were recorded between November 10 and 25 in Panzi Health District, Gwangju Province. Provincial Health Minister Apollinaire Yumaba told reporters over the weekend that symptoms include fever, headache, cough and anemia.
The region’s deputy governor, Remi Saki, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that between 67 and 143 people had died.
He added that a team of epidemiologists is expected to be present in the region to take samples and identify the problem.
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Yumba advised residents to be careful and refrain from contact with dead bodies to avoid contamination. He called on national and international partners to send medical supplies to deal with the health crisis.
Congo is already suffering from a smallpox epidemic, with more than 47,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 suspected deaths from the disease in the central African country, according to the World Health Organization.
The World Health Organization is aware of the unspecified illness and has a team on the ground working with local health services to collect samples, according to an employee of the organization who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
& Edition 2024 The Canadian Press
