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This Weekly Bulletin focuses on public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African region. This week’s articles cover:
- Unknown Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Cholera in Angola
- Complex Humanitarian Crisis in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
For each of these events, a brief description is provided, followed by public health measures implemented and an interpretation of the situation.
At the end of the bulletin, a table provides information on all new and ongoing public health events currently being monitored in the region, as well as recent events that have been controlled and closed..
At the end of the bulletin, a table provides information on all new and ongoing public health events currently being monitored in the region, as well as recent events that have been controlled and closed..
Unknown Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: The Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing multiple public health and humanitarian crises. In its northwestern Équateur Province, two clusters of cases and deaths from an unknown disease have emerged, resulting in hundreds of cases and dozens of deaths. The outbreak, which has seen cases rise rapidly within days, poses a significant public health threat. The exact cause remains unknown, with Ebola and Marburg already ruled out, raising concerns about a severe infectious or toxic agent. Key challenges include the rapid progression of the disease, with nearly half of the deaths occurring within 48 hours of symptom onset in one of the affected health zones, and an exceptionally high case fatality rate in another. Urgent action is needed to accelerate laboratory investigations, improve case management and isolation capacities, and strengthen surveillance and risk communication. The remote location and weak healthcare infrastructure increase the risk of further spread, requiring immediate high-level intervention to contain the outbreak.
In the eastern part of the country, the escalating armed conflict is deepening the humanitarian crisis in North Kivu and South Kivu Provinces. The M23 offensive has led to mass displacement, violence, and humanitarian collapse. The capture of Goma (27 Jan) and Bukavu (14 Feb) has worsened insecurity, while looting, attacks on aid workers, and blocked supply routes have severely disrupted humanitarian operations. Electricity outages in Goma are crippling hospitals and water supplies, increasing the risk of cholera outbreaks, malnutrition, and disease transmission. Reports of gender-based violence are rising, with 45 cases of rape recorded among displaced persons. Medical facilities are overwhelmed, having treated over 4 260 injured people, while the Red Cross has buried 2 000 bodies, and morgues remain overcrowded. Urgent actions include securing humanitarian access, restoring critical infrastructure, ensuring the supply of medical and food aid, and enhancing public health surveillance. Without immediate intervention, these crises will further destabilize the region, heighten public health risks, and worsen human suffering.