143 people are killed by an unknown sickness in southwest Congo, according to local officials

Local authorities told Reuters that 143 people died in November from an unidentified ailment in the southwestern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The provincial minister of health, Apollinaire Yumba, and Remy Saki, the deputy governor of Kwango province, reported on Monday that the infected individuals experienced flu-like symptoms, such as a high fever and excruciating headaches.

In order to diagnose the sickness, a medical team has been dispatched to the Panzi health zone to gather samples and conduct an analysis.

Civil society activist Cephorien Manzanza told Reuters that the situation is quite concerning as the number of sick individuals keeps increasing.

“Panzi is a rural health zone, so there is a problem with the supply of medicines,” Manzanza claimed.

Saki and Yumba claimed that because they are not receiving proper care, sick people pass away in their own houses.

According to a local epidemiology, the sickness primarily afflicted women and children.

A WHO official said on Tuesday that the UN health agency was collaborating with Congo’s public health ministry to conduct additional studies after being informed of the disease’s existence last week.