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A view of the general hospital in the Panzi district of southwestern Congo
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Harare, Zimbabwe — The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is collaborating with authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to identify a new disease outbreak that has claimed at least 79 lives and infected hundreds since its emergence in late October.
Speaking from the DRC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, expressed frustration at delays in identifying the disease, currently referred to as Disease X. "How can we accept five to six weeks of delay?" Kaseya said. "This reflects the weakness in our surveillance system. We are still waiting for answers. Lab results, expected by Friday or Saturday, should reveal the disease's identity and cause."
The outbreak was first reported in Panzi district, Kwango province, near the Angolan border. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa has dispatched experts to support investigations. Initial symptoms include fever, flu-like symptoms, cough, and respiratory difficulties, with additional reports of anemia and headaches. WHO is evaluating possible causes, including influenza, COVID-19, malaria, and measles.
Calls for vigilance and improved hygiene
Dr. Norman Matara, Secretary-General of the Southern African Association of Doctors for Human Rights, urged calm while emphasizing improved hygiene and health surveillance.
“We encourage governments to strengthen surveillance at ports of entry to detect unusual illnesses promptly. A coordinated effort led by Africa CDC is crucial to quickly identify this disease and prevent further deaths or a global outbreak,” Matara said.
Dr. Akili Cishugi Francis, coordinator of Kinshasa-based NGO Action Asante, emphasized the importance of rigorous hygiene, access to clean water, and swift isolation of suspected cases. “People must report symptoms like fever, cough, or fatigue to health authorities immediately,” Francis said.
Disease primarily affects children
The Africa CDC reports that young people, particularly children under five, are the most affected. The situation highlights the DRC’s need for stronger laboratory capacity and faster sample transportation.
“Less than 35% of all samples reach labs within the recommended 48 hours. This delays diagnosis and compromises the quality of the samples,” Kaseya explained. He also stressed the importance of decentralized labs to address the challenges posed by the DRC’s vast geography and limited infrastructure.
Concurrent Mpox outbreak
The DRC is also battling an ongoing Mpox outbreak, part of a larger epidemic affecting 20 African countries. Since January 2024, Mpox has resulted in 62,171 reported cases and 1,200 deaths across the continent, according to Africa CDC.
Health authorities are intensifying efforts to address both the Mpox outbreak and the mystery disease to prevent further loss of life and mitigate the potential for wider outbreaks.
Source: VOA
