Authorities investigate mysterious, flu-like disease that killed 143 in Congo
A mysterious flu-like disease has killed 143 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa over the past month, according to multiple reports.
Authorities told The Associated Press they're "on alert."
The cases are centered in the country’s southwestern province of Kwango, where at least 376 people have been infected since late October, according to the website FluTrackers.com, citing local sources.
Those who were infected experienced flu-like symptoms, including high fever and severe headaches, Reuters reported. The disease appears to most seriously affect women and children, particularly those over 15.
The deputy provincial governor, Rémy Saki, told The Associated Press that a team of epidemiological experts will travel to the region to take samples and investigate.
The country notified the World Health Organization of the outbreak last week, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
As authorities race to identify the disease, the research center has been combating another infectious outbreak: mpox. In 2023, the country reported more than 14,000 mpox cases and 650 deaths, the highest recorded figures in the WHO African region, according to the agency.
As of May 2024, the country reported nearly 8,000 cases and more than 380 deaths from mpox.
This story was updated to add new information.
Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@usatoday.com.