DRC - An unknown disease kills five people in Luozi, Kongo-Central province - Suspected Meningitis

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An unknown disease kills five people in Luozi

Published on Thu, 19/02/2026 - 14:45 | Modified on Thu, 19/02/2026 - 14:45

A disease of unknown origin has struck the Mangembo health zone in Luozi territory, Kongo-Central province. According to a preliminary report published Wednesday, February 18, by the emergency health services, this illness primarily affects schoolchildren and has already caused the deaths of five people, including four students.

According to the Kongo-Central provincial health division, the disease is specifically affecting the village of Madimba, in the Bienga health area, located 59 kilometers from the central office in Mangembo, in the Kenge sector. The first reported symptoms are severe headaches, followed by loss of consciousness, rapidly progressing to death.

Since January 31, six cases have been recorded. Five patients have died, including four students from Institut 2 Madimba, aged 12 to 18. Another 12-year-old child is currently hospitalized at the Bienga health center, where he is receiving antibiotic and antimalarial treatment. A community investigation also identified a sixth fatal case: an adult from the neighboring village of Lundu presenting with the same symptoms.

Suspected Meningitis
: Meeting urgently, health officials are considering the possibility of a bacterial meningitis outbreak, although a formal diagnosis has not yet been established. Administrative and health authorities are calling for a rapid mobilization to identify the causative agent, contain the spread, and protect schoolchildren and other residents.
Logistical Challenges:

According to local health sources, several challenges are complicating the response: insufficient medication, a lack of ambulances to transfer serious cases to the Mangembo General Referral Hospital, and communication difficulties due to poor network coverage in this isolated area. Faced with this worrying situation, authorities are stressing the urgent need for logistical and medical support to prevent further deaths.

https://www.radiookapi.net/2026/02/19/actualite/sante/une-maladie-inconnue-tue-cinq-personnes-luozi

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Friday, February 20, 2026 - 09:10

Luozi: The unknown disease has already caused 8 deaths out of 15 suspected cases!

The disease of unknown origin which broke out on January 31 in the village of Madimba, in the Bienga health area located in the Mangembo health zone, De la Kenge sector, Luozi territory, Kongo Central province, has just caused 8 deaths out of 15 suspected cases recorded.

According to the supplementary investigation report from the Rapid Response Team (RRT), 15 suspected cases were reported as of Wednesday, February 18, including 10 men and 5 women, 9 students and 6 farmers. The report notes the following age groups: 3 (0-12 years), 8 (13-24 years), and 4 (over 25 years). The villages of Nlundu (6 cases), Nkikanga Madimba (4), Yambi (1), Kinkondibila, Nkikombo (1), and Madimba (2) are among the most affected, with 4, 3, and 1 deaths respectively in the first three villages. The overall case fatality rate is estimated at 53%, with Nlundu alone accounting for 6 cases, including 4 deaths.

The most affected age group is 13 to 24 years old, primarily students from the Madimba Institute. Compared to farmers, students represent the majority of recorded cases, the report states.

MYSTICO-OCCULT BELIEFS OF THE VILLAGERS

Faced with this worrying health situation, a treatment center was established in Bienga on February 17th, at a Catholic mission located north of Luozi, to care for the sick. Seven patients are currently being treated there, with no new deaths reported in the last 48 hours. Two new suspected cases were admitted on February 16th and 17th, both students from the Madimba Primary School. A second treatment center for the disease has been set up in Bienga by consolidating all suspected cases scattered across two health areas: Bienga and Sundi-Mamba.

The document consulted describes the mystical and occult beliefs of the local communities who consulted village fetish priests. This situation led to unfortunate events: the stigmatization and lynching of the father of one of the deceased patients, the destruction and burning of houses in the villages of Lundu, Ngoyo, and Kinkanga, and the looting of property and livestock (goats and pigs) by the population.

According to details provided by Dr. John Nkayilu, based in Kimpese, illustrating the images he sent us, the Kongo Central Rapid Intervention Team reached the site of the deadly epidemic after encountering significant difficulties due to the poor road conditions in order to collect samples. The difficulties were so severe that the team had to abandon their 4x4 Jeeps after the second one towed broke down. The RIT members finally reached Bienga using motorcycles, not without further challenges!

SAMPLES SENT TO INRB

Samples taken from the affected areas have been sent to the National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa for analysis. Health teams consider the most plausible hypothesis, based on available clinical and epidemiological data, to be an outbreak of fulminant bacterial meningitis.

Health authorities have intensified active case finding in surrounding schools and villages, strengthened community awareness and mobilized local coordination structures.

As we noted in our initial publications on this situation, the response faces several challenges, including drug stockouts, the isolation of the area due to poor road conditions, and insufficient logistical resources.

The provincial health coordination of Kongo Central and technical partners are called upon to strengthen support in medicines, medical supplies and means of intervention in order to rapidly contain the spread of the disease.

Kléber KUNGU

https://www.forumdesas.cd/luozi-la-maladie-inconnue-fait-deja-8-deces-pour-15-cas-suspects