Mystery disease sparks panic in this country

Public health officials in Africa urged caution on Thursday, as the health minister in Congo announced that the government was on alert, due to a mysterious flu-like disease that has killed dozens of people in recent weeks.

Jean Kasia, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters that more details about the disease should be known in the next 48 hours, as experts receive the results of laboratory samples from those infected.

Mystery disease kills dozens

"Initial tests lead us to believe that it is a respiratory disease, but we need to wait for the results of laboratory tests," Kasia said.

Kasia added that "there are many things we do not know" about the disease - including whether it is contagious and how it is transmitted.

Health Minister Roger Kamba said that Congolese authorities have so far confirmed the deaths of 71 people, including 27 who died in hospitals and 44 in the Panzi area of ​​​​Kwango province in southern Congo.

"The Congolese government is on general alert about this disease," Kamba said, without giving further details.

Symptoms of the serious disease

Kamba said 10 of the victims in hospitals died from lack of blood transfusions, while 17 others died from respiratory problems.

The deaths were recorded between November 10 and 25 in the Panzi health zone in Kwango province.

The minister added that the number of cases has reached about 380, about half of them children under the age of five.

The authorities said symptoms include fever, headache, cough and anemia.

The minister said epidemiologists are in the area to take samples and test for the disease.