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Mysterious epidemic in Congo: at least 79 dead, WHO sends experts

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Mysterious epidemic in Congo: at least 79 dead, WHO sends experts

An unknown infection with flu-like symptoms and anaemia is affecting hundreds of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Concern about rapid spread

At least 79 people have lost their lives due to an epidemic of unknown origin that is affecting the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the African country’s Ministry of Health, the symptoms reported by patients are similar to flu-like symptoms and include fever, headache, runny nose, cough, breathing difficulties and, in many cases, anaemia.

The disease has mainly affected young people between the ages of 15 and 18, and more than 300 people are reported to be infected. Faced with the gravity of the situation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) sent a team of experts to investigate and contain the spread of the disease.

Italian virologist Roberto Burioni, commenting on the situation on social media, called the clinical picture ‘strange’ and urged caution, stressing that viruses can spread rapidly in the modern world. Matteo Bassetti, an infectiologist at the San Martino clinic in Genoa (Italy), also expressed concern about the health conditions in Congo, describing the country as ‘a Pandora’s box’ for epidemics, with a fragile health system and poor hygiene conditions.

Congo, already the scene of recent emergencies such as Ebola and Mpox, is now facing another possible health crisis. Experts are closely monitoring the evolution of the situation in order to understand the nature of the infection and determine intervention measures. The priority, the authorities emphasise, is to prevent a further escalation that could also pose a risk to other areas of the world.

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