Health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and WHO experts are investigating a new cluster of illnesses and community deaths in Equateur province. Reports indicate significant increases in sickness and mortality. A rapid response team has been deployed to assess the situation and address the ongoing health concerns, particularly in the Basankusu and Bolomba health zones.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is intensifying its investigation into a series of illnesses and community deaths in Equateur province. Health authorities, alongside WHO experts, are examining the clustering of these health events, which have surfaced three times across various regions. Enhanced disease surveillance has revealed significant increases in morbidity and mortality that necessitate immediate follow-up and support.
Since January 2025, Equateur province has reported multiple clusters of illness. Recently, the Basankusu health zone documented 141 new cases without associated deaths. Prior reports indicated 158 cases and 58 deaths in February, and in January, the Bolamba health zone had 12 cases with 8 fatalities. Overall, a total of 1096 individuals have fallen ill, with 60 deaths fitting a broad range of symptoms including fever, headaches, and gastrointestinal disturbances.
The DRC is grappling with numerous health crises, further burdening its healthcare system. In response, a national rapid response team, including WHO health emergency specialists, has been dispatched to Basankusu and Bolomba to assess the situation and investigate any unusual health patterns. Experts are amplifying disease surveillance efforts while offering treatment for prevalent diseases in the area.
WHO has provided emergency medical supplies, along with testing kits, and established guidelines to facilitate disease investigation. Initial laboratory results have ruled out Ebola and Marburg viruses as potential causes. Furthermore, testing revealed that approximately 50% of samples were positive for malaria, common in the region. Additional analyses for meningitis and environmental samples are underway to check for contamination.
Geographically, Basankusu and Bolomba are situated approximately 180 kilometers apart and over 300 kilometers from Mbandaka, the provincial capital. This distance poses considerable challenges to healthcare access, complicating both testing and treatment logistics due to underdeveloped road and telecommunications infrastructure. WHO is augmenting local health authorities’ investigation and response measures by training over 80 community health workers to detect and report new cases.
Continued improvements in testing, early case detection, and reporting are essential for managing the current health crises and preparing for future occurrences. WHO is actively engaged in supporting health workers and collaborating with various health authorities to ensure the delivery of necessary medical supplies and to coordinate an effective response to curb the spread of illness in the region.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is responding rigorously to instances of disease clusters and community fatalities in Equateur province. Through concerted efforts involving rapid response teams and international support, health authorities aim to determine the causes, provide treatments, and safeguard public health. Ongoing improvements in disease surveillance and community health worker training are vital for future incident management.
Original Source: www.afro.who.int
