A mysterious illness has been reported in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with lab test results expected within the next 48 hours. According to Dieudonne Mwamba, director-general of the National Institute of Public Health, the outbreak began on October 24 in Panzi Health Zone and has so far reported 376 cases, including 79 fatalities.
The most affected group is children under 5 years old, who account for over half of cases and a majority of deaths. Adults over 25 are also significantly affected. Flulike symptoms include fever, headaches, coughing, breathing difficulty, and anemia.
Lab tests were sent to Kikwit for analysis after no testing capacity was available in the affected area. Officials hope that the samples are of high enough quality for accurate diagnosis. The cause of the outbreak is still unknown, but respiratory symptoms suggest it may be an airborne disease.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/misc-emerging-topics/lab-results-expected-soon-dr-congos-mystery-outbreak