United States: The US health agency is investigating an unknown disease in Congo that has taken dozens of lives, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
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According to the agency, “CDC is monitoring the situation closely and engaging with DRC officials on what support the agency can offer.”
The data provided by the World Health Organization shows the strange illness striking 1,318 people while causing 53 deaths among its victims up to February 25.
Spreading infectious disease
On February 27, the WHO identified 1,096 sick victims, along with 60 deaths attributed to this unknown illness.
The WHO provided no information about the difference in reported death numbers during the previous week, according to ABC News.
The WHO announced through its statement that the most recent recorded death from this illness happened on February 22.
“Deaths have occurred in all age groups, but adolescents and young adults, particularly males, appeared to be disproportionately affected in the initial cluster reported,” as the WHO noted.
Further, “deaths have occurred in all age groups, but adolescents and young adults, particularly males, appeared to be disproportionately affected in the initial cluster reported,” the WHO continued.
Health authorities found rising cases of fatal illnesses for the third time in the previous few months throughout different districts of Congo.
An unknown disease case underwent a separate report in December of last year within the central African nation until officials attributed the episode to respiratory diseases and malaria.
The last disease cluster presents symptoms including fever alongside headache, chills, and sweating along with a stiff neck, widespread body pain, multiple joint pain, nasal bleeding and running, cough and diarrhea, and vomiting, as reported by the WHO, ABC News reported.
Laboratory examinations conducted by the WHO have yielded no results for Ebola or Marburg virus disease, according to their announcement.