Kinshasa –
The Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports an outbreak meningitis in Tshopo province, northeast of Congo, has killed 129 people. Meanwhile, the number of people who have been infected since the first case was discovered in June was 267.
Reported Reuters, Wednesday (8/9/2021) tests carried out by the Pasteur Institute in Paris detected one of the most common types of bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis, which has the potential to cause a major epidemic. This was reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Health Minister Jean-Jacques Mbungani said the investment was made in early June near Panga, about 270 kilometers north of the town of Kisangani. The result, found the patient suffered from fever, headache, stiff neck, and difficulty speaking.
Meningitis transmitted by kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone, or staying in close proximity to an infected person. People of all ages can catch this disease, but it mainly affects infants, children and adolescents.
“We are moving fast, delivering medicine and deploying experts to support the government’s efforts to contain the outbreak in the shortest possible time,” said WHO regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti.
The province of Tshopo lies in the meningitis belt of Africa, which stretches across the continent from Senegal to Ethiopia.
According to WHO data, Congo has experienced several outbreaks in the past, including one in 2009 that infected 214 people and caused 15 deaths.
In addition to years of armed conflict, corruption and underfunding, Congo’s health system has in the past four years battled four outbreaks. These are the endemic Ebola, cholera and measles outbreaks, the bubonic plague, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
(lir/lir)
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