A water crisis in northwestern Congo has claimed at least 60 lives, with authorities investigating potential contamination as the main suspect. The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday that while a definitive conclusion is too early, there is “a very strong level of suspicion” of poisoning related to a water source.
According to WHO emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan, over 1,000 illnesses have emerged in five villages in Congo’s Equateur province since late January. The high rates of malaria in the area have complicated diagnosis, making it difficult for officials to confirm the main cause of the illnesses.
The suspected poisoning event is believed to have occurred in a village called Boloko, where three children died after eating a bat and over 90% of the cases and deaths reported there were linked to symptoms similar to those of a poisoning event. In another affected area, Bomate, nearly all patients tested positive for malaria, with many showing additional symptoms such as chills, vomiting, and bleeding noses.
The WHO is conducting thorough investigations into the cause of the illnesses, considering both biological and chemical exposure as possible explanations. However, officials have yet to confirm the main cause, partly due to the remote locations of the affected villages making it difficult for medical teams to reach the sick in time.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/01/health/congo-water-contamination-deaths/index.html