A significant outbreak of an unidentified flu-like illness (sometimes referred to as "Disease X"[3]) began in October 2024 in the southwestern region of Kwango Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The outbreak has been primarily in the Panzi rural health zone and has prompted investigation by local and international health organizations. Estimates of fatalities vary from 31[2] to 143 fatalities by 5 December.[4][5] On 5 December, the disease was reported as having spread to Katenda, also in the Kwango Province.[6]
2024 Kwango province disease outbreak | |
---|---|
Disease | Unidentified |
Location | Kwango, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Dates | 24 October 2024[1] – ongoing |
Suspected cases‡ | 406 up to 5 December[2] |
Deaths | 31[2]–143 |
‡Suspected cases have not been confirmed by laboratory tests as being due to this strain, although some other strains may have been ruled out. |
Outbreak
editThe first known case was identified on 24 October 2024,[1] with the first recorded fatality recorded on 10 November 2024.[6] Central authorities were only first notified later,[1] with the Ministry of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo first reporting the outbreak to the World Health Organization on 29 November 2024.[2]
As of 8 December, cases had been reported from 9 health areas (out of 30) in the Panzi health zone: Kahumbulu, Kambandambi, Kanzangi, Kasanji, Kiama, Mbanza Kipungu, Makitapanzi, Mwini ngulu, and Tsakala Panzi. 95.8% of those cases were from Tsakala Panzi (169 cases), Makitapanzi (142 cases) and Kanzangi (78 cases) health areas.[2] This area has suffered food shortages in preceding months and has low vaccination coverage.[2]
The WHO reported 406 cases from 24 October-5 December, with a peak in the week ending 9 November 2024. They also report 31 deaths, but that there were further community deaths that were yet to be investigated.[2] According to provincial authorities, including Deputy Provincial Governor Rémy Saki, the death toll ranged from 67 to 143 individuals up to 25 November, several of whom died in their homes due to lack of medical care.
Most cases are in children, particularly those under the age of five,[2] and cases are slightly more common in women rather than men.[1] Most of the dead are under 15 years old.[2]
A man who worked 500 kilometers from the documented outbreak area was hospitalized at the San Luca Hospital in Lucca, Italy, from 22 November to 3 December 2024.[7] He was discharged upon recovery. Samples were collected and will be sent to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità for analysis.[8]
Symptoms
editThose afflicted with the unidentified illness suffered from several flu-like symptoms, including severe headache, cough, high fever, and nausea, with the addition of anemia.[9][4][6][10] The 8 December WHO report gave symptom prevalences of fever (96.5%), cough (87.9%), fatigue (60.9%) and a running nose (57.8%). They also noted that the main symptoms associated with fatalities included difficulty in breathing, anamia, and signs of acute malnutrition.[2]
A Panzi resident, Claude Niongo, told the Associated Press that his seven year old daughter and wife had died from this unknown disease. He stated "We do not know the cause but I only noticed high fevers, vomiting... and then death," while also reporting that “Now, the authorities are talking to us about an epidemic but in the meantime, there is a problem of care (and) people are dying."[6]
The 8 December WHO report gives 31 deaths out of 406 cases, producing a case fatality ratio of 7.6%, but noted all severe cases were reported to be severely malnourished.[2]
Cause
editA WHO report on 8 December 2024 reported ongoing laboratory tests to determine the cause of the disease, but noted that it is also possible more than one disease is involved. Acute pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, measles, hemolytic uremic syndrome from E. coli, and malaria are being considered as potential causes, with malnutrition as a contributing factor. The WHO report also notes that malaria is common disease in the area and may otherwise be contributing.[2]
Response
editKwango health minister Apollinaire Yumba implemented preliminary containment measures, including advising residents to avoid contact with deceased individuals to prevent potential transmission. Local authorities requested additional medical supplies from the international community.[4][5] The health ministry warned people not to go to mass gatherings, report any suspected cases or unusual deaths, and to maintain basic hygiene and not to handle deceased bodies, they also stated the reason of the mission is to ensure immediate care, collect samples for the laboratory and to conduct deep investigations to identify the nature of the disease.[11] Due to the rural nature of the province, the disease samples had to be taken to a laboratory 500 kilometers away, delaying results.[6]
The World Health Organization (WHO) was alerted to the outbreak on 3 December, and stated that it was working with the health officials of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to make further investigations as to what the unknown flu-like illness is.[10] The WHO is also sending teams to collect samples.[12] The CDC of Africa also responded and said that they are investigating with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on this issue.[5][13]
On 5 December Hong Kong tightened health screenings at airports and at other boundary control points in response to the outbreak.[14] On 6 December Italy's Ministry of Health asked its border offices to pay attention to people coming from the DRC, especially in ports and airports.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "DRC Expects Diagnosis Of 'Disease X' By Weekend; Mpox Continues To Spread - Health Policy Watch". December 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l World Health Organization (8 December 2024). Disease Outbreak News; Undiagnosed disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo. Available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2024-DON546
- ^ Janice Kew; Jason Gale. "Mystery Flu-Like 'Disease X' Investigated After Killing 79 in Congo". Bloomberg News.
- ^ a b c "Health officials investigate mystery disease in southwest Congo after 143 deaths". AP News. 2024-12-03. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
- ^ a b c "Unknown disease in DRC leaves dozens dead, officials say". euronews. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
- ^ a b c d e Kamale, Jean-Yves; Pronczuk, Monika (5 December 2024). "Congo government says it's 'on alert' over mystery flu-like disease that killed dozens". Associated Press. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ "Malattia Congo, paziente ricoverato a Lucca con sintomi e già dimesso" [Congo Disease, patient hospitalized in Lucca with symptoms and already discharged]. Sky TG24 (in Italian). 2024-12-08. Archived from the original on 2024-12-08. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ^ "Lucca patient with Congo disease symptoms, samples tested". ANSA.it. 2024-12-08. Archived from the original on 2024-12-08. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ^ "Mysterious Illness Claims Lives in Congo's Kwango Province". Devdiscourse. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
- ^ a b "Unknown disease kills 143 people in south-west DRC, local authorities say". The Guardian. Reuters. 2024-12-03. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
- ^ "x.com".
- ^ "Health officials investigate mystery disease in southwest Congo after 143 deaths". AP News. 2024-12-03. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
- ^ Reporter, Natalie Venegas Weekend (2024-12-03). "Congo reports dozens dead from unknown disease". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
- ^ "Hong Kong Enhances Health Checks Amid DRC Disease Outbreak with 79 Deaths and 300 Infections Reported". www.bastillepost.com. December 5, 2024.
- ^ "Virus misterioso in Congo, l'Italia controlla gli scali - Medicina - Ansa.it". Agenzia ANSA. December 6, 2024.