An unknown disease has claimed the life of around 143 people in a rural area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Scientists have been unable to identify the exact condition yet, but they have released a list of severe symptoms that appeared in victims before their death. These include fever, headache, cough, and anemia. The World Health Organisation (WHO) have been sent samples from infected patients and are currently running tests to try and identify the illness.
The deaths were recorded over a short period of time, between November 10 and November 25 in the DRC’s Panzi health zone of Kwango province, the Associated Press reported. The WHO said they are not yet ready to release an official statement about the situation, but experts are worried things could get worse.
READ MORE: Symptoms of deadly Marburg virus including ‘bleeding eyes’ as warning issued
READ MORE: New UK monkeypox Clade Ib variant case detected in England, UKHSA confirm
Click for more of the latest news from across the world from the Daily Star.
(Image: Getty Images)
Medical supplies are few and far between and often don’t arrive in time to provide the care needed for the infected patients. It is not known whether the disease deaths could have been avoided, but doctors say the rural location does not help treatment.
A local specialist of diseases say it appears to affect women and children most, with men being the least infected patients. However, it is far too early to give an official diagnosis or trend report.
The Daily Star joins Bluesky as we Make Social Media Fun Again
Come and join The Daily Star on Bluesky, the social media site set up by ex-Twitter boss Jack Dorsey. It’s now the new go-to place for content after a mass exodus of the Elon Musk-owned Twitter/X.
Fear not, we’re not leaving Twitter/X, but we are jumping on the bandwagon. So come find our new account on https://bsky.app/profile/dailystar.co.uk, and see us social better than the rest.
You can also learn more about The Daily Star team in what Bluesky calls a “Starter Pack”.
So what are you waiting for?! Let’s M.S.M.F.A (Make Social Media Fun Again)
Adding to this, the DRC is in the middle of a deadly Mpox virus outbreak. The country have reported around 47,000 suspected mpox cases and more than 1,000 suspected deaths.
For Brits, a travel warning has been issued due to the ongoing spread of Marburg, Mpox and Oropouche, with 17 countries now affected. Another condition, named the Marburg virus, also known as the “bleeding eyes” virus due to one of its symptoms, has claimed 15 lives in Rwanda, where hundreds are believed to be infected.
(Image: Getty Images)
There are fears that this deadly disease, which carries a 50-50 death risk, could soon spread to other African nations currently dealing with other outbreaks. Mpox clade 1 has also been detected in Burundi, Central African Republic, DRC, Gabon, Uganda and Kenya.
The risk to the UK remains low, but Travel Health Pro has issued a warning for travellers to and from the country to exercise extra caution. With no pre-travel vaccine available for mpox in the UK, it’s recommended that people consult with a health professional about their fitness to travel before leaving.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.