Pandemic Alert: Unknown disease with flu-like symptoms kills 150 in Africa, sick dying at home

Amid the ‘

bleeding eye virus

‘ panic plaguing Africa, health officials have issued a warning after an

unknown disease

with flu-like symptoms killed almost 150 people since it was discovered in the southwestern Congo. According to AP, the deaths occurred in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province between November 10 and November 25. To diagnose the sickness, a medical team has been dispatched to the Panzi health zone to gather samples and do an analysis.

Congo afflicted with an unknown illness that resembles the flu

According to provincial health minister Apollinaire Yumba, the symptoms of this unidentified illness resemble flu and include a high fever, a strong headache, coughing, and anemia. Following the deaths of numerous patients in their homes due to a lack of access to treatment, health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are keeping an eye on the enigmatic illness.
Rémy Saki, the deputy provincial governor, told AP on Tuesday that the death toll ranged from 67 to 143. He went on to say, “A group of epidemiological specialists is anticipated in the area to collect samples and determine the issue.”

Yumba cautioned people against coming into contact with dead bodies in order to prevent contagion. In order to address the health issue, he urged both domestic and foreign partners to supply medical supplies.

The situation becomes concerning

To diagnose the sickness, a medical team has been dispatched to the Panzi health zone to gather samples and conduct analysis. As the number of affected individuals kept increasing, the situation was quite concerning, according to civic society leader Cephorien Manzanza. “There is an issue with the supply of medicines because Panzi is a rural health zone,” Manzanza stated.

According to Saki and Yumba, sick people perished in their own houses due to a lack of care. According to a local epidemiology, the sickness most severely impacted women and children.

A spokesman for the World Health Organization stated on Tuesday that the sickness was discovered last week and that the UN health agency was collaborating with the public health ministry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to do additional research.

Sick people passing away in their homes

Health experts called the development “extremely worrying” and noted that the death toll is rising quickly. On November 25, the mysterious disease was responsible for just 67 recorded deaths. After struggling to receive care, many infected people are reportedly dying in their homes. It is unclear if individuals have received negative findings for other ailments, and DRC officials have not disclosed any test results.

Given the dramatic increase of instances, Cephorien Manzanza said the situation was concerning. The official continued: “Panzi is a rural health zone, so there is a problem with the supply of medicines.”
It occurs as the DRC is still dealing with an mpox outbreak that has decimated the populace. Although there have been other recent disease outbreaks in the DRC, including 12 cases of Ebola, it remains unknown what the most recent deadly illness is.
The WHO reports that there have been approximately 1,000 suspected deaths and 47,000 suspected cases of Mpox in the nation. A

pandemic

is categorized when it spreads to neighboring nations or continents, as opposed to an epidemic, where cases are classified to identify sickness that is actively spreading within a territory.

Numerous instances of pandemics have occurred, including the current Covid-19 outbreak that quickly traveled from China. Other instances, such as strains of avian flu, have also been categorized as pandemics.
(With inputs from agencies)