DR Congo Intensifies Investigation into Illness Cluster in Equateur Province

Health officials in the DRC are investigating a cluster of illnesses in Equateur province, with extensive disease surveillance revealing numerous cases and fatalities. The WHO is involved in responding to the crisis, offering medical supplies, training, and investigating potential causes. Accessibility challenges persist, impacting healthcare delivery and response efforts.

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), along with experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), are intensifying their investigation into a series of illnesses and community deaths in Equateur province. Increased disease surveillance has revealed multiple outbreaks, prompting urgent investigation to identify causes and deliver necessary medical support.

Since early 2025, the Basankusu health zone in Equateur province has reported a significant rise in illnesses, totaling 141 cases with no deaths in a recent cluster. Prior reports showed 158 illnesses and 58 deaths in February, alongside 12 cases with 8 fatalities in the Bolamba health zone in January.

Overall, disease surveillance indicates 1,096 cases and 60 deaths across the Basankusu and Bolomba regions, presenting symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, and gastrointestinal distress. The DRC’s concurrent crises further strain its healthcare system, necessitating focused response from health authorities.

In response to the health crisis, a national rapid response team, including WHO emergency experts, has been deployed to analyze the situation in Basankusu and Bolomba health zones. Investigators are gathering data from community interviews while providing treatment for common diseases endemic to the region, such as malaria and typhoid fever.

Emergency medical supplies, including testing kits, have been dispatched by WHO, alongside protocols to support the disease investigation process. Initial tests ruled out Ebola and Marburg viruses; however, around half of the samples tested positive for malaria, common in Equateur province. Additional tests for meningitis and environmental contamination are forthcoming.

Accessibility challenges complicate healthcare delivery, as Basankusu and Bolomba are over 300 kilometers from the provincial capital, Mbandaka. The duo is reachable primarily by inefficient roadways or the Congo River, underscoring gaps in healthcare access. Communication infrastructure also poses significant operational hurdles for health workers in the region.

WHO is strengthening local investigative efforts, having trained over 80 community health workers to detect and report new cases. Enhanced capabilities for testing, case detection, and reporting are essential to manage ongoing and future public health incidents effectively. WHO remains committed to coordinating efforts with local, provincial, and national health authorities, providing vital supplies and guidance to mitigate illness spread.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is urgently investigating a series of illnesses in Equateur province, with significant increases in cases and fatalities over recent months. WHO is actively involved in the response, providing support, supplies, and training to local health workers. Challenges related to access and infrastructure continue to hinder effective healthcare delivery, highlighting critical needs for improved disease surveillance and response strategies.

Original Source: www.afro.who.int