In November, 143 people died from an unknown illness in the southwestern province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, local authorities told Reuters.
Kwango Deputy Governor Remy Psaki and Health Minister Apollinaire Yumba said on Monday that the infected person had flu-like symptoms, including a high fever and severe headache.
A medical team was dispatched to Panaji Health District to collect samples and conduct analyzes to identify the disease.
Civil society leader Sephorian Mandanza said the situation was extremely worrying as the number of infections continued to rise.
“Panaji is a rural health zone, so there are problems with the supply of medicines,” Manzanza said.
According to Saki and Yumba, those who were sick died at home without receiving treatment.
Local epidemiologists said women and children are hardest hit by the disease.
A World Health Organization spokesperson said Tuesday that the U.N. health agency was alerted to the presence of the disease last week and is working with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Public Health to conduct further investigation.
