An outbreak of an unknown disease was reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), killing 143 people in November 2024. The disease was recorded in the south-west of the country, in Kwango province. According to Deputy Governor Remy Saki and the region’s Health Minister, Apollinaire Yumba, those infected experience flu-like symptoms: high fever and severe headaches.
However, the situation is complicated by limited access to medicines and medical care in the Panzi rural health zone. Patients often die at home without receiving the necessary treatment. Women and children are particularly vulnerable, highlighting the seriousness of the problem.
The World Health Organization (WHO) was notified of the outbreak last week and is working with authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to investigate it. The country has previously experienced outbreaks of infectious diseases, including monkeypox, which has caused more than 1,000 deaths among 47,000 suspected infections since the beginning of the year.
This situation highlights the chronic problems of the DRC’s health care system, as well as the need for urgent international efforts to prevent the further spread of the disease.
Previously, Cursor reported thatScientists have explained why people continue to become infected with HIV, despite modern contraceptive methods.
From 2010 to 2023, the world made significant progress in the fight against HIV: the number of new cases decreased by 39%. However, despite this success, the 1.3 million new infections recorded in 2023 are still well above the UNAIDS target of 370,000, highlighting the magnitude of the remaining challenges.
