In late November 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) was alerted to a serious public health crisis in a region of the Congo known as the Panzi health zone. Almost 900 cases of serious illness had been reported, affecting primarily children under the age of 5. There were 48 deaths, but the number of reported cases and deaths has since remained relatively stable since the health crisis began. WHO dispatched a team to this rugged and undeveloped area to try to solve the mystery of what was happening, and whether a new illness was emerging in the region.
Luckily, there does not seem to be any novel virus emerging in this area. A wide range of diagnostic tests have been conducted and while not all of them are complete, it seems that WHO has solved the mystery of what has been affecting these comminities.
The affected individuals were severely malnourished, and the region has been impacted by major food shortages in recent months. Over 60 percent of these cases tested positive for malaria, which is endemic in the area. After diagnostic testing for viruses was completed, it also seems like these children were sickened by a number of pathogens. The cases seem to simply be due to a confluence of problems.
Additional testing is ongoing, but about 430 samples have been tested so far for respiratory viruses including influenza A (H1N1), rhinoviruses, SARS-COV-2, various coronaviruses, and parainfluenza viruses.
So many of the samples tested positive for different (known) respiratory viruses, that WHO has stated that the deaths were likely due to a combination of factors including acute malnutrition, seasonal respiratory viruses, and malaria.
WHO noted that these cases have highlighted the severe burden that common viruses can have when they strike vulnerable groups that are dealing with a severe lack of reliable food supplies, or food insecurity.
Organizations like Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, and WHO are also remaining in the region to provide medical support, supplies, and care to the affected communities, and to continue to monitor the situation for any changes. A variety of technological supplies, such as oxygen machines and a mobile internet kit have also been deployed to the Panzi health zone, and doctors are trying to prevent more deaths. Clinicians and care providers have also been conducting outreach so that additional illnesses can be prevented in the area.
WHO has stated that the risk to the global, regional, and national communities remains low at this time.
Source: World Health Organization
