Fears in DRC as mystery disease kills dozens, mainly children
Al Jazeera
More than 500 cases of an unknown illness have emerged in rural and remote Panzi in western Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo – Just four months after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency over mpox – which has overwhelmed health systems in Democratic Republic of the Congo this year – a new mystery flu-like illness that’s killed dozens of people has raised fears among many Congolese.
Forty-year-old Denise Kabeya lives in the Panzi area in DRC’s western Kwango province – where health authorities say most cases of the unknown disease have emerged since October.
That month, Kabeya’s 12-year-old daughter Diane fell ill.
“My beloved little one had headaches, runny nose, no appetite and was physically weak,” Kabeya told Al Jazeera by telephone. “I thought it was malaria and typhoid fever,” she shared, explaining that those diseases are endemic in the region.
When Diane developed a blocked nose, Kabeya hoped the worst was over and that she would make a speedy recovery, as was usually the case when she developed such symptoms. But the child complained about more aches and pains, and eventually passed away from her illness in late October.
