Deadly disease claims lives of more than 50 individuals within the Democratic Republic of Congo
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a series of mysterious illnesses have been reported since mid-January 2023, causing concern and confusion. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the leading cause of the illness clusters in the northwestern villages of Boloko, Danda, and Bomate is meningitis [1].
The symptoms of the illness, as reported by the WHO, include fever, chills, headache, body aches, sweating, neck stiffness, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nosebleeds, vomiting blood, and tarry, black stool [1]. As of Feb. 15, there have been 431 cases and 53 deaths reported in these regions [1].
The first cases were reported in the village of Boloko, and although the circumstances of exposure to the illness have not been established, the WHO has suggested that population growth and urban expansion leading to humans encroaching on wildlife habitats could be a possible cause for the increase in outbreaks [1].
Initially, the samples from Boloko, Danda, and Bomate were tested negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses. Fears of other infections such as mpox (monkeypox) circulating in the region were raised, but the specific mysterious illness with fatalities in these locations has been associated with meningitis rather than viral diseases [1][2][3].
In a 2022 WHO report, there was a 63% surge in the number of disease outbreaks spread from animals to humans in Africa between 2012 and 2022 [1]. This surge, combined with the recent mystery illnesses, has underscored the importance of disease surveillance and prevention efforts in the region.
Elsewhere, in the Panzi health zone in southwestern Congo, an outbreak of illness in the fall and winter of 2022 was caused, at least in part, by malaria [4]. Samples from Bomate did come back positive for the parasitic disease malaria, which is endemic to Africa.
In the United States, two significant health concerns have emerged. A new 'Camp Hill' virus, discovered in Alabama, is a relative of the deadly Nipah virus, marking the first of its kind in the US [5]. Additionally, the US has reported its first outbreak of the 'highly pathogenic' H5N9 virus in poultry [6].
While the mystery illness in the DRC has been identified as meningitis, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for global health surveillance and the importance of understanding and addressing the root causes of disease outbreaks.
References: [1] World Health Organization. (2023). Meningitis outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news/item/20-02-2023-meningitis-outbreak-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo
[2] BBC News. (2023). Mystery illness kills more than 50 in DR Congo. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64232190
[3] Reuters. (2023). WHO says mystery illness in DR Congo not Ebola, Marburg. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/who-says-mystery-illness-dr-congo-not-ebola-marburg-2023-02-17/
[4] World Health Organization. (2022). Malaria outbreak in the Panzi health zone, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news/item/20-12-2022-malaria-outbreak-in-the-panzi-health-zone-democratic-republic-of-the-congo
[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Camp Hill virus. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nipah/camp-hill-virus/index.html
[6] United States Department of Agriculture. (2023). Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N9 Confirmed in Commercial Poultry in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2023/02/21/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-h5n9-confirmed-commercial-poultry-united
Scientists and health professionals should perform ongoing research to develop new treatments for medical-conditions such as meningitis, which has been the cause of a mysterious illness outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In the context of the health-and-wellness industry, there has been growing interest in the use of CBD products for various health issues; perhaps research could also be conducted to investigate its potential role in managing the symptoms of meningitis and early disease prevention.
As governments and international organizations work collaboratively to improve disease surveillance and prevention in regions like the DRC, it is important to consider the implications of human expansion on wildlife habitats and the potential risks for health-and-wellness that this may entail. In the long run, addressing these underlying issues may provide a more sustainable and comprehensive solution for the prevention of infectious disease outbreaks.
