A mysterious illness has killed over 50 people in the northwestern Equateur province of Congo, sparking concerns about disease outbreaks in Africa.
The outbreaks began on January 21 and have included nearly half a dozen deaths within hours. The cases are believed to have originated from two remote villages, Bomate and Boloko, which are separated by over 120 miles.
Health officials are struggling to identify the cause of the illness, with over 80% of patients sharing similar symptoms such as fever, chills, body aches, and diarrhea. However, tests in Kinshasa have ruled out Ebola and other viral hemorrhagic fevers.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating possible causes, including malaria, food or water poisoning, typhoid fever, and meningitis. The WHO has urged an urgent action to accelerate laboratory investigations and improve case management.
Congo’s government has deployed experts to the villages since February 14, but the remote location and weak health infrastructure have hindered access to patients. Several victims died before experts could reach them.
The US is providing support for the Congo’s health sector, including training hundreds of field epidemiologists. The WHO notes that the surge in disease outbreaks in Africa may be linked to the country’s vast forests, which provide reservoirs for viruses.
Experts warn that as long as there are forests, there will be epidemics. “All these viruses have reservoirs in the forest,” said Gabriel Nsakala, a professor of public health.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/congo-disease-deaths-equateur-2ac02d9a41c0c819ab1f8bc30a1b5e17