WHO Investigates Deadly Mystery Illness in Remote Congo Region

A team of experts is working to identify an undiagnosed disease that has killed dozens and sickened hundreds in the Democratic Republic of Congo since late October.

The outbreak in Kwango Province, near the Angola border, has resulted in 376 recorded cases and 79 deaths, with children under 5 being the most affected group.
Symptoms include fever, headache, cough, breathing difficulties, and anemia, though the cause of the illness remains unknown as laboratory results are pending.
WHO and Africa CDC teams are conducting on-site investigations, hindered by the region's remoteness, poor infrastructure, and ongoing conflict in the area.
Experts caution that the illness could be a known pathogen, such as influenza or malaria, exacerbated by malnutrition, or possibly a novel disease.
Neighboring countries like Hong Kong and Thailand have initiated border screenings for travelers from the Congo as a precautionary measure.