As reported by AFP, the fatalities occurred between November 10 and 25 in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province.

A flu-like illness that has claimed dozens of lives over a two-week period is currently under investigation in the southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to local authorities.

The fatalities were recorded between November 10 and 25 in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province, as reported by AFP. The provincial health minister, Apollinaire Yumba, confirmed symptoms such as fever, headache, cough, and anaemia during a press briefing over the weekend.

Rémy Saki, the deputy provincial governor, informed The Associated Press on Tuesday that the death toll is estimated to be between 67 and 143.

“A team of epidemiological experts is expected to arrive in the region to collect samples and identify the issue,” Saki said.

Minister Yumba advised the public to exercise caution and avoid contact with dead bodies to reduce the risk of transmission. He also appealed to national and international partners to provide medical supplies to help manage the growing health crisis.

Meanwhile, the DRC is already battling a severe mpox epidemic, which has led to over 47,000 suspected cases and more than 1,000 suspected deaths, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO has acknowledged the outbreak of the unidentified disease and confirmed that a team is on the ground working with local health services to gather samples. A representative from the organization, speaking anonymously due to a lack of authorization to address the media, confirmed this development.