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DRC - Kwango: At least 37 confirmed deaths due to epidemics of undiagnosed origin reported in Panzi - November 30, 2024+ - malaria, H1N1pdm09 influenz
- Thread starter Pathfinder
- Start date
Commonground
Senior Moderator
Initial samples in DR Congo unexplained outbreak positive for malaria
Lisa Schnirring. 42 minutes ago.
Initial test results from samples patients in an unexplained illness outbreak in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) found malaria from several samples, though it's possible that more than one disease in involved, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said today at a briefing in Geneva.
Major difficulties with access, communication
So far, 416 cases and 31 deaths have been reported in Panzi health district, a remote region in southwestern DRC, located about 425 miles from Kinshasa. Most cases involve children younger than 14 years old.
A national expert team arrived today after a several-day trip to assist a Kwango province team that has been on the ground since November 30, Tedros said. Telecommunications in the area are severely limited, and difficult access to the outbreak region has been made worse by the rainy season
"The area also suffers from high levels of malnutrition and low vaccination coverage, leaving children vulnerable to a range of diseases including malaria, pneumonia, measles and others," he said.
No explosive growth in cases, deaths
Abdi Mahamud, MD, interim director of alert and response coordination for the WHO, said malaria is endemic in the area and the rainy season has come with an increase in respiratory diseases within expected levels. For example, he said Kinshasa is seeing a rise in flu and COVID activity.
He said the epidemiologic data don't show an explosive increase in cases or deaths. He added, however, that the high infant mortality shows that the issue needs to be addressed in Panzi and other vulnerable regions.
Mike Ryan, MD, who leads the WHO's health emergencies program, praised DRC health officials for their work on the outbreak. Officials recognized that the cluster was unusual enough to report to the WHO, he said. "This is a sign of a system working, even in an extreme environment."
He also said officials are working with the US government to set up an airlift into an airport that is 150 km (93 miles) from Panzi
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/malaria/initial-samples-dr-congo-unexplained-outbreak-positive-malaria
Lisa Schnirring. 42 minutes ago.
Initial test results from samples patients in an unexplained illness outbreak in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) found malaria from several samples, though it's possible that more than one disease in involved, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said today at a briefing in Geneva.
Major difficulties with access, communication
So far, 416 cases and 31 deaths have been reported in Panzi health district, a remote region in southwestern DRC, located about 425 miles from Kinshasa. Most cases involve children younger than 14 years old.
A national expert team arrived today after a several-day trip to assist a Kwango province team that has been on the ground since November 30, Tedros said. Telecommunications in the area are severely limited, and difficult access to the outbreak region has been made worse by the rainy season
"The area also suffers from high levels of malnutrition and low vaccination coverage, leaving children vulnerable to a range of diseases including malaria, pneumonia, measles and others," he said.
No explosive growth in cases, deaths
Abdi Mahamud, MD, interim director of alert and response coordination for the WHO, said malaria is endemic in the area and the rainy season has come with an increase in respiratory diseases within expected levels. For example, he said Kinshasa is seeing a rise in flu and COVID activity.
He said the epidemiologic data don't show an explosive increase in cases or deaths. He added, however, that the high infant mortality shows that the issue needs to be addressed in Panzi and other vulnerable regions.
Mike Ryan, MD, who leads the WHO's health emergencies program, praised DRC health officials for their work on the outbreak. Officials recognized that the cluster was unusual enough to report to the WHO, he said. "This is a sign of a system working, even in an extreme environment."
He also said officials are working with the US government to set up an airlift into an airport that is 150 km (93 miles) from Panzi
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/malaria/initial-samples-dr-congo-unexplained-outbreak-positive-malaria
Treyfish
Moderator
Cosenza woman with Congo disease symptoms doing well
Hospitalized for one day, samples sent to Rome
ROME, 11 December 2024, 15:20
A woman returning from Congo who presented flu-like symptoms potentially similar to the disease that is affecting a region of the African country was hospitalized in Cosenza in recent days and has already been discharged, local health authorities said Wednesday.
The woman, who returned from the African country on November 29, was discharged after one day, they said.
Local health authorities said samples taken will be analysed by the Istituto Superiore della Sanità (Higher Health Institute, ISS).
The likelihood of her having infected someone else is very low, they added.
On Tuesday, the head of the infectious diseases department of the local ASL health authority of north-western Tuscany said it was unlikely that a man from Lucca who recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo with symptoms similar to those of the mystery disease in the southwest of the African country had contracted the illness.
The Lucca patient, who…
:tiphat:
https://www.ansa.it/english/news/ge...ell_33f6065c-285b-4071-96e7-2b02f6e60b02.html
Hospitalized for one day, samples sent to Rome
ROME, 11 December 2024, 15:20
A woman returning from Congo who presented flu-like symptoms potentially similar to the disease that is affecting a region of the African country was hospitalized in Cosenza in recent days and has already been discharged, local health authorities said Wednesday.
The woman, who returned from the African country on November 29, was discharged after one day, they said.
Local health authorities said samples taken will be analysed by the Istituto Superiore della Sanità (Higher Health Institute, ISS).
The likelihood of her having infected someone else is very low, they added.
On Tuesday, the head of the infectious diseases department of the local ASL health authority of north-western Tuscany said it was unlikely that a man from Lucca who recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo with symptoms similar to those of the mystery disease in the southwest of the African country had contracted the illness.
The Lucca patient, who…
:tiphat:
https://www.ansa.it/english/news/ge...ell_33f6065c-285b-4071-96e7-2b02f6e60b02.html
Treyfish
Moderator
Indonesia-
Lawmaker Calls for Stricter Entry Rules to Prevent Spread of Congo Mystery Disease
Yustinus Paat, Associated Press
December 12, 2024 | 12:48 pm
Jakarta. Lawmaker Arzeti Bilbina has urged the government to tighten entry restrictions for travelers from Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of Congo, to prevent the potential spread of a mysterious disease that has reportedly claimed dozens of lives.
“I urge the government to tighten entry access for foreign nationals, especially those coming from Congo, whether by land, air, or sea. This mysterious disease must not be allowed to enter our country,” Arzeti, a member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives, said Wednesday…
:tiphat:
https://jakartaglobe.id/news/lawmak...es-to-prevent-spread-of-congo-mystery-disease
Lawmaker Calls for Stricter Entry Rules to Prevent Spread of Congo Mystery Disease
Yustinus Paat, Associated Press
December 12, 2024 | 12:48 pm
Jakarta. Lawmaker Arzeti Bilbina has urged the government to tighten entry restrictions for travelers from Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of Congo, to prevent the potential spread of a mysterious disease that has reportedly claimed dozens of lives.
“I urge the government to tighten entry access for foreign nationals, especially those coming from Congo, whether by land, air, or sea. This mysterious disease must not be allowed to enter our country,” Arzeti, a member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives, said Wednesday…
:tiphat:
https://jakartaglobe.id/news/lawmak...es-to-prevent-spread-of-congo-mystery-disease
Treyfish
Moderator
News ‘Disease X’ Is Major Congo Public-Health Worry, Africa CDC Says
By Janice Kew
December 12, 2024 at 9:01AM EST (Bloomberg) -- An outbreak of a mysterious flu-like illness in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a “major public-health concern” for the country that is reporting more cases, the head of the African Union’s public-health agency said.
Congo, which is as big as the US states of Alaska and Texas combined, reported another 147 cases of “Disease X” in the past week, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director General Jean Kaseya said in an online briefing Thursday.
More than 500 cases of the unidentified illness have been reported since late October, with the national authorities alerted to the outbreak on Dec. 1. Most cases are among children younger than five and emerged at a time of increased influenza circulation. ..
:tiphat:
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/busines...or-congo-public-health-worry-africa-cdc-says/
By Janice Kew
December 12, 2024 at 9:01AM EST (Bloomberg) -- An outbreak of a mysterious flu-like illness in a remote part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a “major public-health concern” for the country that is reporting more cases, the head of the African Union’s public-health agency said.
Congo, which is as big as the US states of Alaska and Texas combined, reported another 147 cases of “Disease X” in the past week, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director General Jean Kaseya said in an online briefing Thursday.
More than 500 cases of the unidentified illness have been reported since late October, with the national authorities alerted to the outbreak on Dec. 1. Most cases are among children younger than five and emerged at a time of increased influenza circulation. ..
:tiphat:
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/busines...or-congo-public-health-worry-africa-cdc-says/
Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Special Briefing on Mpox & other Health Emergencies || Dec. 12, 2024
-------------------------
Screenshots from the video and excerpts from the transcript:
...We'll start our press conference with what the world is calling the disease x ... today as we know, we have this disease in DRC particularly in Panzy District where we have around 527 cases already recorded and out of the 527 cases, we have almost 42% or 43% under five children. In terms of deaths, we are talking about the 32 deaths coming from the facility level but we have a number of deaths, around 44, we are saying around because there is an ongoing investigation ...but what is important I wanted to flag here if you compare from last week to this week we have an additional 147 cases, if you compare the previous week to last week, it was 111 cases. It means it's a major public health issue in DRC, and I think the director general of the national public of DRC will provide more information about it ... Today DRC and Africa CDC didn't communicate about any pathogen regarding this disease, I want to make it clear, DRC and Africa CDC didn't communicate about any pathogen. The person who's leading all investigation ... the National Institute of biomedical research in DRC, this is the main referral Institute for research and lab Professor Placid Mbala sent me the message that I'm posting to all of you with his permission. That message was clearly saying that the first samples that they received on the 7 of December, they were poor quality samples, the whole blood and serum were poorly preserved and some show hemolysis. With that there was no way for them to conduct the testing and to give us the main reason of this pathogen and even said we don't think that we can obtain any relevant information with that and a team went back to Panzy, a multi-disciplinary team coming from the ministry, from Africa CDC and from the WHO to investigate what's happening in Panzi but I give you, for those who don't know Panzi, when we talk about 700 kilom ...It takes 3 days to drive from Kester to Panzy. Then, we hope by beginning of next week, we'll have the team bringing back some of the samples they are collecting, and we'll communicate. For now today, we are not giving any indication, any official indication regarding this disease..,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4RF-LuJp3c
Treyfish
Moderator
Disease X: DRC confounded by new outbreak, health system under strain
Thursday, December 12, 2024 - 3 min read
By Patrick Ilunga
Correspondent in Kinshasa, DRC
Nation Media Group Kwango Province in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a disease of unknown origin that has already killed 143 people.
The disease, which broke out at the end of October, has infected some 400 people and is straining health authorities pummelled with Mpox and Ebola outbreaks in the recent past.
The Congolese government has said it is monitoring the situation and announced the deployment of a “a rapid intervention team”, including epidemiologists, a provincial doctor, a laboratory technician and experts.
But the World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concern about the remoteness of the affected Panzi area, logistical obstacles and the lack of security where the disease is rife.
The symptoms of the disease include coughing, headache, fever, aches and a runny nose, and are similar to those of severe seasonal flu. The Ministry of Health has so far ruled out Covid-19.
.....
The unknown disease affects Kwango, which is experiencing a community dispute that morphed into an armed conflict between the Mobondo militia and the DRC's armed forces.
...
The results of the analysis of the samples have not yet been published. And experts have labelled the disease as ‘X’.
Meanwhile, a team from the Ministry of Health is preparing to step up action on the ground. But they say a clear strategy to combat the disease will be known once the pathogens have been isolated and the disease properly named. This may include the preventive measures for the public and public health decisions such as lockdowns or vaccinations.
Dr Kamba stressed the need to remain on high alert and to take rapid action to bring the situation under control. He also said that symptom mapping was underway to help identify the precise nature of the disease.
The minister said that laboratory tests were underway to determine the exact cause of the disease.
“At this stage, it is also possible that several diseases are contributing to the cases and deaths,” said the WHO, adding that rapid response teams have been deployed to identify the cause of the epidemic and strengthen the response.
“The teams are collecting samples for laboratory testing, providing a more detailed clinical characterisation of detected cases, investigating transmission dynamics and actively searching for other cases, both in health facilities and at community level,” the WHO said.
:tiphat:
https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/te...ease-x-drc-confounded-by-new-outbreak-4855336
Thursday, December 12, 2024 - 3 min read
By Patrick Ilunga
Correspondent in Kinshasa, DRC
Nation Media Group Kwango Province in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a disease of unknown origin that has already killed 143 people.
The disease, which broke out at the end of October, has infected some 400 people and is straining health authorities pummelled with Mpox and Ebola outbreaks in the recent past.
The Congolese government has said it is monitoring the situation and announced the deployment of a “a rapid intervention team”, including epidemiologists, a provincial doctor, a laboratory technician and experts.
But the World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concern about the remoteness of the affected Panzi area, logistical obstacles and the lack of security where the disease is rife.
The symptoms of the disease include coughing, headache, fever, aches and a runny nose, and are similar to those of severe seasonal flu. The Ministry of Health has so far ruled out Covid-19.
.....
The unknown disease affects Kwango, which is experiencing a community dispute that morphed into an armed conflict between the Mobondo militia and the DRC's armed forces.
...
The results of the analysis of the samples have not yet been published. And experts have labelled the disease as ‘X’.
Meanwhile, a team from the Ministry of Health is preparing to step up action on the ground. But they say a clear strategy to combat the disease will be known once the pathogens have been isolated and the disease properly named. This may include the preventive measures for the public and public health decisions such as lockdowns or vaccinations.
Dr Kamba stressed the need to remain on high alert and to take rapid action to bring the situation under control. He also said that symptom mapping was underway to help identify the precise nature of the disease.
The minister said that laboratory tests were underway to determine the exact cause of the disease.
“At this stage, it is also possible that several diseases are contributing to the cases and deaths,” said the WHO, adding that rapid response teams have been deployed to identify the cause of the epidemic and strengthen the response.
“The teams are collecting samples for laboratory testing, providing a more detailed clinical characterisation of detected cases, investigating transmission dynamics and actively searching for other cases, both in health facilities and at community level,” the WHO said.
:tiphat:
https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/te...ease-x-drc-confounded-by-new-outbreak-4855336
Treyfish
Moderator
Fears in DRC as mystery disease kills dozens, mainly children
More than 500 cases of an unknown illness have emerged in rural and remote Panzi in western Democratic Republic of the Congo.
…….
The WHO said limited diagnostics in the region have delayed the identification of the underlying cause of the outbreak. However it added that its teams were helping with patient treatment, risk communication and engagement with the community as the health crisis continued.
Meanwhile, on the ground, medics say there are huge difficulties in caring for patients who are bedridden at Panzi hospital.
“We don’t have resuscitation kits such as oxygen condensers, we don’t have treatment centres and isolation facilities, and we don’t even have electricity; [there is] scarcity of communication tools and internet,” Dr Rufin Mukuwa, a doctor at the Panzi general referral hospital, told Al Jazeera.
Health experts take samples from people infected by the unknown disease in Panzi, DRC [Supplied] Fears and calls for vigilance
Speaking to Al Jazeera by phone from Kenge, the capital of Kwango province, some residents said they feared the outbreak spreading from remote Panzi into their communities.
“We’re worried that the provincial authorities haven’t taken preventive measures to prevent this disease from spreading to other areas,” resident Emile Yimbu complained.
He called for the reinforcement of epidemiological surveillance measures to contain the disease within a well-defined zone, and lessen its consequences.
Prosper Kiswemba, a local councillor in Kenge, is also worried about how end-of-year travel plans in the region may affect the potential spread of the disease.
Kiswemba said hygienic measures such as temperature sampling and the installation of hand-washing stations along arterial roads leading to Panzi needed to be reinforced, lest the disease spread further.
Meanwhile, one local health expert who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, said they feared the disease may be zoonotic in origin.
Even though national and global health bodies have not announced any animal-related links, the expert said: “Most of the people I’ve interviewed personally admit to having been in contact with certain wild animals a few days before falling ill.”
To be safe, he said people should be cautioned about reducing contact with wild animals……
:tiphat:
Read more: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/...se-kills-dozens-mainly-children#ixzz8uIRElMal
More than 500 cases of an unknown illness have emerged in rural and remote Panzi in western Democratic Republic of the Congo.
…….
The WHO said limited diagnostics in the region have delayed the identification of the underlying cause of the outbreak. However it added that its teams were helping with patient treatment, risk communication and engagement with the community as the health crisis continued.
Meanwhile, on the ground, medics say there are huge difficulties in caring for patients who are bedridden at Panzi hospital.
“We don’t have resuscitation kits such as oxygen condensers, we don’t have treatment centres and isolation facilities, and we don’t even have electricity; [there is] scarcity of communication tools and internet,” Dr Rufin Mukuwa, a doctor at the Panzi general referral hospital, told Al Jazeera.
Speaking to Al Jazeera by phone from Kenge, the capital of Kwango province, some residents said they feared the outbreak spreading from remote Panzi into their communities.
“We’re worried that the provincial authorities haven’t taken preventive measures to prevent this disease from spreading to other areas,” resident Emile Yimbu complained.
He called for the reinforcement of epidemiological surveillance measures to contain the disease within a well-defined zone, and lessen its consequences.
Prosper Kiswemba, a local councillor in Kenge, is also worried about how end-of-year travel plans in the region may affect the potential spread of the disease.
Kiswemba said hygienic measures such as temperature sampling and the installation of hand-washing stations along arterial roads leading to Panzi needed to be reinforced, lest the disease spread further.
Meanwhile, one local health expert who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, said they feared the disease may be zoonotic in origin.
Even though national and global health bodies have not announced any animal-related links, the expert said: “Most of the people I’ve interviewed personally admit to having been in contact with certain wild animals a few days before falling ill.”
To be safe, he said people should be cautioned about reducing contact with wild animals……
:tiphat:
Read more: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/...se-kills-dozens-mainly-children#ixzz8uIRElMal
Treyfish
Moderator
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Reports an Outbreak of an Unknown Origin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
On 4 December 2024, the public health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo issued a press release about a reported outbreak of unknown origin in the Panzi health zone, Kwango province.
According to the press release, since 24 October 376 people have been affected with 79 deaths, mainly affecting children. The signs and symptoms reported include fever, headaches, cough, dyspnoea, anaemia, and rhinorrhoea.
Currently, the health authorities in the DRC are investigating the outbreak. The Ministry of Health has issued preliminary recommendations to the affected population: avoid mass gatherings, report suspected cases through a hotline, and practice proper hand hygiene.
Assessment and Actions
Given that the cause of the disease remains unknown, the ECDC states that it is currently impossible to assess the risk posed by the outbreak to the European Union/European Economic Area countries. The ECDC continues to monitor the situation and maintains contact with African health authorities.
The National Public Health Centre is closely monitoring updates from the ECDC regarding the outbreak and will promptly inform the Lithuanian public if new information about potential impacts or risks to European countries emerges.
Last updated: 12-12-2024
:tiphat:
https://nvsc.lrv.lt/en/naujienos/eu...igin-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo/
On 4 December 2024, the public health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo issued a press release about a reported outbreak of unknown origin in the Panzi health zone, Kwango province.
According to the press release, since 24 October 376 people have been affected with 79 deaths, mainly affecting children. The signs and symptoms reported include fever, headaches, cough, dyspnoea, anaemia, and rhinorrhoea.
Currently, the health authorities in the DRC are investigating the outbreak. The Ministry of Health has issued preliminary recommendations to the affected population: avoid mass gatherings, report suspected cases through a hotline, and practice proper hand hygiene.
Assessment and Actions
Given that the cause of the disease remains unknown, the ECDC states that it is currently impossible to assess the risk posed by the outbreak to the European Union/European Economic Area countries. The ECDC continues to monitor the situation and maintains contact with African health authorities.
The National Public Health Centre is closely monitoring updates from the ECDC regarding the outbreak and will promptly inform the Lithuanian public if new information about potential impacts or risks to European countries emerges.
Last updated: 12-12-2024
:tiphat:
https://nvsc.lrv.lt/en/naujienos/eu...igin-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo/
Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
OMS RDC
@OMSRDCONGO
Translation Google
In #Panzi, we are strengthening the skills of community animators & relays, nurses from the villages of Tsakalapanzi & Kanzangi in order to carry out in-depth investigations and active search for cases & deaths of undiagnosed disease in the community.
7:49 AM · Dec 13, 2024
@OMSRDCONGO
Translation Google
In #Panzi, we are strengthening the skills of community animators & relays, nurses from the villages of Tsakalapanzi & Kanzangi in order to carry out in-depth investigations and active search for cases & deaths of undiagnosed disease in the community.
7:49 AM · Dec 13, 2024
Treyfish
Moderator
The unknown disease, which is raging in the Panzi health zone in the Kwango province, is already spreading to other neighboring health zones, including Kitenda, the administrator of the Kasongo-Lunda territory warned on Tuesday, December 10.
" We are really sorry about this disease, which is raging in the Panzi health zone (...) There are still many deaths already and many cases. The concern is also that the disease will spread to other health zones. There is the health zone of Kitenda, Kazembe and Mwaningita, where there are also a few cases ," declared the administrator of the Kasongolunda territory, Arsène Kukangidila.
:tiphat:
https://www.radiookapi.net/2024/12/...onnue-de-panzi-setend-dautres-zones-du-kwango
" We are really sorry about this disease, which is raging in the Panzi health zone (...) There are still many deaths already and many cases. The concern is also that the disease will spread to other health zones. There is the health zone of Kitenda, Kazembe and Mwaningita, where there are also a few cases ," declared the administrator of the Kasongolunda territory, Arsène Kukangidila.
:tiphat:
https://www.radiookapi.net/2024/12/...onnue-de-panzi-setend-dautres-zones-du-kwango
Treyfish
Moderator
Health: Al Jazeera, 'Congo disease could be zoonotic in origin'
December 13, 2024
Kinshasa, Dec. 13 (Adnkronos) – The mysterious disease circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo could be zoonotic in origin. A health expert from the African country told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity. Although national and global health bodies have not announced any link with animals, the expert said that “most of the people I have personally interviewed admit to having been in contact with some wild animals a few days before getting sick”. To be safe, he added, people should be advised to reduce contact with wild animals.
:tiphat:
https://laragione.eu/adnkronos/news...attia-congo-potrebbe-avere-origine-zoonotica/
December 13, 2024
Kinshasa, Dec. 13 (Adnkronos) – The mysterious disease circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo could be zoonotic in origin. A health expert from the African country told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity. Although national and global health bodies have not announced any link with animals, the expert said that “most of the people I have personally interviewed admit to having been in contact with some wild animals a few days before getting sick”. To be safe, he added, people should be advised to reduce contact with wild animals.
:tiphat:
https://laragione.eu/adnkronos/news...attia-congo-potrebbe-avere-origine-zoonotica/
Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
OMS RDC@OMSRDCONGO
Translation Google
#Panzi 's undiagnosed disease
. @WHO & @MinSanteDRC work in a deep spirit of close collaboration. Our workers have taken new samples from around fifty cases at the General Reference Hospital & in Tsakalapanzi, sent to @inrb_kinshasa
...
In total, our teams have already collected more than 345 samples from 83 cases, including nasal, urine, stool, breast milk, blood culture, whole blood, oropharyngeal swabs. All these samples are carefully packaged to ensure their integrity.
8:58 AM · Dec 13, 2024
Translation Google
#Panzi 's undiagnosed disease
. @WHO & @MinSanteDRC work in a deep spirit of close collaboration. Our workers have taken new samples from around fifty cases at the General Reference Hospital & in Tsakalapanzi, sent to @inrb_kinshasa
...
In total, our teams have already collected more than 345 samples from 83 cases, including nasal, urine, stool, breast milk, blood culture, whole blood, oropharyngeal swabs. All these samples are carefully packaged to ensure their integrity.
8:58 AM · Dec 13, 2024
Treyfish
Moderator
:tiphat:sounds like crap to me.
Congo’s health ministry says unknown disease is severe malaria
Reuters
-17 Dec 2024, 11:05 PM
The previously unidentified illness killed 143 people in the southwestern Kwango province. LUBUMBASHI: Democratic Republic of Congo’s health ministry said today that a previously unidentified disease circulating in the country’s Panzi health zone is a severe form of malaria.
Earlier this month, local authorities said the disease had killed 143 people in the southwestern Kwango province in November.
:magnify:“The mystery has finally been solved. It’s a case of severe malaria in the form of a respiratory illness … and weakened by malnutrition,” the health ministry said in a statement.
It also said that 592 cases had been reported since October 2020 with a fatality rate of 6.2%.
:tiphat:
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/c...istry-says-unknown-disease-is-severe-malaria/
Congo’s health ministry says unknown disease is severe malaria
Reuters
-17 Dec 2024, 11:05 PM
The previously unidentified illness killed 143 people in the southwestern Kwango province. LUBUMBASHI: Democratic Republic of Congo’s health ministry said today that a previously unidentified disease circulating in the country’s Panzi health zone is a severe form of malaria.
Earlier this month, local authorities said the disease had killed 143 people in the southwestern Kwango province in November.
:magnify:“The mystery has finally been solved. It’s a case of severe malaria in the form of a respiratory illness … and weakened by malnutrition,” the health ministry said in a statement.
It also said that 592 cases had been reported since October 2020 with a fatality rate of 6.2%.
:tiphat:
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/c...istry-says-unknown-disease-is-severe-malaria/
Treyfish
Moderator
.....In an emailed statement to USA TODAY, the World Health Organization said it hasn't conclusively determined the cause of the illness yet and lab testing is ongoing.....
:tiphat:https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/12/17/congo-unknown-disease-x-malaria/77044559007/
:tiphat:https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/12/17/congo-unknown-disease-x-malaria/77044559007/
Malaria might absolutely be the cause of the undiagnosed fatalities, but it's not the cause of the respiratory symptoms.
Given the surge in seasonal flu in Kinshasa, I'd assume that's what's going on here as well, but it's possible that something like RSV might also be in play.
I wonder if the unusual way of describing this is intended for the local audience and not the international community or Flublogia: Malaria kills, but influenza (or RSV or Mycoplasma or...) doesn't generally, so they're intentionally only mentioning the threat that they can and must deal with. It doesn't really matter to the affected community what's making people cough...it matters what's killing them.
Given the surge in seasonal flu in Kinshasa, I'd assume that's what's going on here as well, but it's possible that something like RSV might also be in play.
I wonder if the unusual way of describing this is intended for the local audience and not the international community or Flublogia: Malaria kills, but influenza (or RSV or Mycoplasma or...) doesn't generally, so they're intentionally only mentioning the threat that they can and must deal with. It doesn't really matter to the affected community what's making people cough...it matters what's killing them.
Treyfish
Moderator
....."The mystery has finally been solved. It's a case of severe malaria in the form of a respiratory illness," the health ministry said in a statement, adding malnutrition in the area had weakened the local population, leaving them more vulnerable to disease.
The statement also said that 592 cases had been reported since October, with a fatality rate of 6.2%.
Provincial health minister, Apollinaire Yumba, told Reuters that anti-malaria medicine provided by the World Health Organization was being distributed in the main hospital and health centers in the the Panzi health zone.
A WHO spokesperson said more health kits for moderate and critical cases were due to arrive on Wednesday.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week that 10 early samples from patients in Congo suffering from a mystery illness had tested positive for malaria, but that he had not not ruled out the possibility that they suffered from other concurrent diseases. (Reporting by Yassin Kombi; Additional reporting by Sonia Rolley and Ange Kasongo; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian Editing by Bate Felix and Alex Richardson)
:tiphat:
https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/congo-disease-deaths/2024/12/17/id/1191950/
The statement also said that 592 cases had been reported since October, with a fatality rate of 6.2%.
Provincial health minister, Apollinaire Yumba, told Reuters that anti-malaria medicine provided by the World Health Organization was being distributed in the main hospital and health centers in the the Panzi health zone.
A WHO spokesperson said more health kits for moderate and critical cases were due to arrive on Wednesday.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week that 10 early samples from patients in Congo suffering from a mystery illness had tested positive for malaria, but that he had not not ruled out the possibility that they suffered from other concurrent diseases. (Reporting by Yassin Kombi; Additional reporting by Sonia Rolley and Ange Kasongo; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian Editing by Bate Felix and Alex Richardson)
:tiphat:
https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/congo-disease-deaths/2024/12/17/id/1191950/
Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
SPECIAL BRIEFING ON MPOX || DEC. 19, 2024
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
...
Screenshots from the video:
Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Some excerpts from the question period:
(Typos possible)
... What made people sound the alarm given that the symptom looks very similar to malaria. Is it unusual deaths or something slightly different in the cases manifestation?
Dr Ngashi Ngon: to Carry's question about what was the trigger, the trigger was the high case fatality rate... 6.2% CFR...
...
Question from Gabriel Emanuel from NPR:... I am curious about the situation in Panzy and my understanding, I spoke to one scientist who said many people actually have the malaria parasite in their blood because it's just so common in the area such as a positive malaria test might not be what is causing them to get sick so I was wondering if there have been other diseases that have been eliminated from the differential of what can be causing this outbreak...
Dr Ngashi Ngon: ... the point she made with malaria is the reason why the second hypothesis now weights on a viral disease which is happening in the background of malaria because malaria is endemic in the area and also malnutrition and that is also where in the discover of this new case of hemorrhagic syndrome might also be pointing towards that hypothesis ...we are also exploring other things...we are hoping that in the next one week we should be able to get at least the initial results...
...
Dr Ngashi Ngon: ...about the case of hemorrhagic fever, we received the message that was forwarded to us this morning which just said that an adult male just died of a hemorrhagic fever syndrome. Since it came this morning, it means that it is something that just happened over the last 2 to 3 days, but what we hear also is that the sample has already been collected and it has been sent to Kinshasa. It is on its way to Kinshasa. It's a very recent case.
(Typos possible)
... What made people sound the alarm given that the symptom looks very similar to malaria. Is it unusual deaths or something slightly different in the cases manifestation?
Dr Ngashi Ngon: to Carry's question about what was the trigger, the trigger was the high case fatality rate... 6.2% CFR...
...
Question from Gabriel Emanuel from NPR:... I am curious about the situation in Panzy and my understanding, I spoke to one scientist who said many people actually have the malaria parasite in their blood because it's just so common in the area such as a positive malaria test might not be what is causing them to get sick so I was wondering if there have been other diseases that have been eliminated from the differential of what can be causing this outbreak...
Dr Ngashi Ngon: ... the point she made with malaria is the reason why the second hypothesis now weights on a viral disease which is happening in the background of malaria because malaria is endemic in the area and also malnutrition and that is also where in the discover of this new case of hemorrhagic syndrome might also be pointing towards that hypothesis ...we are also exploring other things...we are hoping that in the next one week we should be able to get at least the initial results...
...
Dr Ngashi Ngon: ...about the case of hemorrhagic fever, we received the message that was forwarded to us this morning which just said that an adult male just died of a hemorrhagic fever syndrome. Since it came this morning, it means that it is something that just happened over the last 2 to 3 days, but what we hear also is that the sample has already been collected and it has been sent to Kinshasa. It is on its way to Kinshasa. It's a very recent case.