The World Health Organization is sending a team of specialists to assist local health officials in examining a mysterious flu-like illness that has affected nearly 400 individuals in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This group includes epidemiologists, health workers, lab technicians, infection control specialists, and risk communication professionals, as stated by WHO.

Lawrence Gostin, a seasoned global health authority and head of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, expressed serious concern about the outbreak, highlighting the need for further investigation.

“While we shouldn’t panic, this issue demands global attention, particularly if it turns out to be a new, highly contagious form of influenza, which could spread quickly across the globe,” he warned.

The outbreak is primarily located in Kwango province, particularly within the Panzi health area. The World Health Organization reported 30 fatalities linked to the disease, whereas local authorities indicated that 143 people have died since late October.

Currently reported symptoms include headaches, cough, fever, difficulty breathing, and anemia. The WHO noted that the illness seems to impact women and children more severely, especially those over 15 years old.

Gostin expressed particular worry that the illness affects individuals in their prime age rather than the very young or elderly, who are more typically susceptible to flu viruses.

“It’s perplexing, as this isn’t something we commonly see,” he remarked.

He is also troubled by the apparent human-to-human transmission of the disease, contrasting it with other deadly flu viruses like avian influenza, which do not spread easily. “This is quite alarming,” he stated.

Moreover, the Democratic Republic of Congo faces significant challenges with its fragile healthcare system amidst ongoing civil unrest and a population that typically lacks confidence in conventional medicine and Western healthcare providers, as per Gostin.

“Delivering resources to manage this outbreak will be quite challenging,” he emphasized. “It’s a complicated situation.”

The WHO team is actively working to eliminate respiratory pathogens like influenza and COVID-19, along with other potential causes such as malaria and measles. Commencing late November, local WHO investigators have been cooperating with national health authorities to track the illness.

The additional WHO experts will enhance the outbreak response, focusing on collecting samples, locating active cases, treating patients, and raising public awareness. They will also supply critical medicines and diagnostic tests.

“Our priority is to provide meaningful assistance to the affected families and communities,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “We are committed to swiftly identifying the cause of the illness, understanding how it spreads, and ensuring an effective response.”

Panzi is a rural area located over 400 miles from Kinshasa, the nation’s capital, with difficulties in accessibility by road and limited communication, according to the WHO.

In an email to YSL News, David Daigle, a representative from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated, “The U.S. CDC is informed of reports concerning this illness in southwest DRC. Our personnel, including those in Kinshasa, are in communication with the Ministry of Health and are prepared to provide further assistance if required.”

As health officials rush to identify the illness, the region is simultaneously dealing with another infectious disease crisis: mpox. In 2023, Congo reported over 14,000 mpox cases and 650 deaths, marking the highest numbers in the WHO African region, as indicated by the agency.

By May 2024, nearly 8,000 mpox cases and over 380 deaths had been documented in the country.

(This article has been updated to incorporate new information.)