Latest news with #TarikJasarevic
Russia Today
26-02-2025
- Health
- Russia Today
Unknown disease kills dozens in conflict-torn African state
At least 53 people have been killed by an unknown illness in recent weeks in the northwestern part of Democratic Republic of the Congo, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported. The organization said 431 cases had been recorded in two outbreaks in remote areas of the African country's Equateur province as of February 15. In the village of Bomate, 45 people have died out of 419 known cases. A total of eight deaths out of 12 cases had earlier been reported in the nearby villages of Boloko and Danda, it stated. Symptoms include fevers, chills, headache, body aches, sweating, neck stiffness, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Nearly half of the deaths are believed to occur within 48 hours of the first signs appearing, according to the WHO. 'The outbreaks, which have seen cases rise rapidly within days, pose a significant public health threat. The exact cause remains unknown,' WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told a briefing on Tuesday. In a recently published bulletin, the global health agency said samples from 12 active cases and one deceased person had tested negative for Ebola and Marburg. Health teams are investigating other possible causes, including malaria, viral hemorrhagic fever, food or water poisoning, typhoid fever, and meningitis, WHO added. The latest crisis, which reportedly began in Boloko after three children ate a dead bat and died within 48 hours, comes amid other public health challenges in the Central African country. The DR Congo has been identified as the epicenter of a severe outbreak of the Mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox, with over 2,000 new suspected cases weekly, according to the WHO. In December, the former Belgian colony's Health Ministry identified a previously unknown disease that had spread in the southwestern Kwango province as a severe form of malaria. The illness, which causes fevers, headaches, coughing, runny noses, and body aches, claimed 143 lives in November. The country has also been devastated by armed clashes in its eastern region since the beginning of the year, driven by militants of the M23 group, one of dozens of rebel groups fighting the government for control of territories and mineral resources. About 7,000 people have been killed in the fighting, Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa told a high-level meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday. The WHO has warned that the escalating violence will 'further destabilize the region, heighten public health risks, and worsen human suffering' if immediate action is not taken.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Two clusters of unknown illness kill over 50 in Democratic Republic of Congo
LONDON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - More than 50 people have died in recent weeks in two clusters of illness cases with unknown cause being investigated in northwest Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday. As of February 16, there have been 431 cases and 53 deaths in two outbreaks in remote villages in separate health zones in Equateur province, the WHO said in a bulletin. The country is roughly the size of Western Europe. "The outbreaks, which have seen cases rise rapidly within days, pose a significant public health threat. The exact cause remains unknown," WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told a briefing on Tuesday. The villages have limited surveillance capacity and health infrastructure, he noted. The larger outbreak, reported on 13 February from Bomate village in Equateur's Basankusu health zone, has killed 45 people out of 419 cases. Almost half died within 48 hours of falling ill, the WHO said, with symptoms including fever, pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Samples from 13 cases have tested negative for Ebola and Marburg, but the WHO said health teams were locally investigating other potential causes, including malaria, food poisoning, typhoid, meningitis or other viral haemorrhagic fever. An earlier outbreak, involving eight deaths among 12 cases, was reported from Boloko Village in Bolomba health zone on January 21, WHO said. This outbreak was traced back to three deaths among children under five years old in the village earlier that month. Symptoms including fever and fatigue progressed to haemorrhagic signs such as nosebleeds and vomiting blood. Reports indicated that the children had eaten a dead bat before falling ill. The other cases were found in the same village and nearby Dondo village, all with similar symptoms. At the end of January, samples taken from patients all tested negative for Ebola and Marburg. The WHO said no links have been established between the two clusters of cases. "We are looking into whether it is another infection or whether it is some toxic agent. We have to see what can be done and at what point WHO can support," said Jasarevic, noting similar outbreaks in the past. An outbreak of unknown cause reported in Congo in December was ultimately identified as malaria. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democratic Republic of Congo: Two clusters of unknown illness kill over 50
NBC News
26-02-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Two clusters of unknown illness kill 50 in Democratic Republic of Congo
More than 50 people have died in recent weeks in two clusters of illness cases with unknown cause being investigated in northwest Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday. As of February 16, there have been 431 cases and 53 deaths in two outbreaks in remote villages in separate health zones in Equateur province, the WHO said in a bulletin. The country is roughly the size of Western Europe. 'The outbreaks, which have seen cases rise rapidly within days, pose a significant public health threat. The exact cause remains unknown,' WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told a briefing on Tuesday. The villages have limited surveillance capacity and health infrastructure, he noted. The larger outbreak, reported on 13 February from Bomate village in Equateur's Basankusu health zone, has killed 45 people out of 419 cases. Almost half died within 48 hours of falling ill, the WHO said, with symptoms including fever, pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Samples from 13 cases have tested negative for Ebola and Marburg, but the WHO said health teams were locally investigating other potential causes, including malaria, food poisoning, typhoid, meningitis or other viral haemorrhagic fever. An earlier outbreak, involving eight deaths among 12 cases, was reported from Boloko Village in Bolomba health zone on January 21, WHO said. This outbreak was traced back to three deaths among children under five years old in the village earlier that month. Symptoms including fever and fatigue progressed to haemorrhagic signs such as nosebleeds and vomiting blood. Reports indicated that the children had eaten a dead bat before falling ill. The other cases were found in the same village and nearby Dondo village, all with similar symptoms. At the end of January, samples taken from patients all tested negative for Ebola and Marburg. The WHO said no links have been established between the two clusters of cases. 'We are looking into whether it is another infection or whether it is some toxic agent. We have to see what can be done and at what point WHO can support,' said Jasarevic, noting similar outbreaks in the past.
Reuters
25-02-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Two clusters of unknown illness kill 50 in Democratic Republic of Congo
LONDON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - More than 50 people have died in recent weeks in two clusters of illness cases with unknown cause being investigated in northwest Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday. As of February 16, there have been 431 cases and 53 deaths in two outbreaks in remote villages in separate health zones in Equateur province, the WHO said in a bulletin, opens new tab. The country is roughly the size of Western Europe. "The outbreaks, which have seen cases rise rapidly within days, pose a significant public health threat. The exact cause remains unknown," WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told a briefing on Tuesday. The villages have limited surveillance capacity and health infrastructure, he noted. The larger outbreak, reported on 13 February from Bomate village in Equateur's Basankusu health zone, has killed 45 people out of 419 cases. Almost half died within 48 hours of falling ill, the WHO said, with symptoms including fever, pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Samples from 13 cases have tested negative for Ebola and Marburg, but the WHO said health teams were locally investigating other potential causes, including malaria, food poisoning, typhoid, meningitis or other viral haemorrhagic fever. An earlier outbreak, involving eight deaths among 12 cases, was reported from Boloko Village in Bolomba health zone on January 21, WHO said. This outbreak was traced back to three deaths among children under five years old in the village earlier that month. Symptoms including fever and fatigue progressed to haemorrhagic signs such as nosebleeds and vomiting blood. Reports indicated that the children had eaten a dead bat before falling ill. The other cases were found in the same village and nearby Dondo village, all with similar symptoms. At the end of January, samples taken from patients all tested negative for Ebola and Marburg. The WHO said no links have been established between the two clusters of cases. "We are looking into whether it is another infection or whether it is some toxic agent. We have to see what can be done and at what point WHO can support," said Jasarevic, noting similar outbreaks in the past. An outbreak of unknown cause reported in Congo in December was ultimately identified as malaria.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Two clusters of unknown illness kill 50 in Democratic Republic of Congo
LONDON (Reuters) - More than 50 people have died in recent weeks in two clusters of illness cases with unknown cause being investigated in northwest Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday. As of February 16, there have been 431 cases and 53 deaths in two outbreaks in remote villages in separate health zones in Equateur province, the WHO said in a bulletin. The country is roughly the size of Western Europe. "The outbreaks, which have seen cases rise rapidly within days, pose a significant public health threat. The exact cause remains unknown," WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told a briefing on Tuesday. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The villages have limited surveillance capacity and health infrastructure, he noted. The larger outbreak, reported on 13 February from Bomate village in Equateur's Basankusu health zone, has killed 45 people out of 419 cases. Almost half died within 48 hours of falling ill, the WHO said, with symptoms including fever, pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Samples from 13 cases have tested negative for Ebola and Marburg, but the WHO said health teams were locally investigating other potential causes, including malaria, food poisoning, typhoid, meningitis or other viral haemorrhagic fever. An earlier outbreak, involving eight deaths among 12 cases, was reported from Boloko Village in Bolomba health zone on January 21, WHO said. This outbreak was traced back to three deaths among children under five years old in the village earlier that month. Symptoms including fever and fatigue progressed to haemorrhagic signs such as nosebleeds and vomiting blood. Reports indicated that the children had eaten a dead bat before falling ill. The other cases were found in the same village and nearby Dondo village, all with similar symptoms. At the end of January, samples taken from patients all tested negative for Ebola and Marburg. The WHO said no links have been established between the two clusters of cases. "We are looking into whether it is another infection or whether it is some toxic agent. We have to see what can be done and at what point WHO can support," said Jasarevic, noting similar outbreaks in the past. An outbreak of unknown cause reported in Congo in December was ultimately identified as malaria.
