WHO sends experts to help Congo diagnose mysterious disease

(CLO) The World Health Organization (WHO) is sending experts to the Democratic Republic of Congo to assist health authorities in investigating an unidentified disease linked to multiple deaths in a remote area of the country.

WHO said on December 6 that experts from the organization will travel to Panzi, a locality in the southwestern province of Kwango, where they will provide health authorities with essential medicines and diagnostic kits to help analyze the cause of the mysterious illness.

WHO is sending experts to Congo to help the country identify a mysterious disease that has killed hundreds of people. Photo: Reuters

WHO said laboratory tests were being conducted to determine the cause, and pledged to provide more information when results were available.

“Our priority is to provide effective support to affected families and communities,” said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “We are working to identify the cause, understand the mode of transmission and ensure a rapid and appropriate response.”

According to WHO, there have been 394 cases and 30 deaths recorded in the Panzi health district, based on data from the Ministry of Public Health .

Earlier this week, local authorities said an unknown illness had killed 143 people in the area in November. Symptoms of the illness, as documented by the WHO, include headaches, coughs, fever, shortness of breath and anemia.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/who-cu-chuyen-gia-giup-chdc-congo-xac-dinh-can-benh-bi-an-post324556.html