Unidentified illness in Democratic Republic of the Congo

09 Dec 2024

The World Health Organization is investigating an outbreak of an unidentified illness in Kwanzi Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

From 24 October 2024 to 5 December 2024, Panzi Health Zone in Kwango Province has reported 406 cases (31 deaths) of the disease. Symptoms include fever, headache, cough, runny nose and body ache. Most cases and deaths are children aged under 15 years.

Investigations into the cause of the illness are continuing.

Advice for travellers

If you are travelling to DRC, you should take general travel health precautions at all times.

Make sure you have a valid comprehensive travel insurance, and always check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice for DRC.

Before Travel:

Make sure you (and your family) are up to date with UK schedule vaccines as well as vaccines and antimalarials advised for travel to DRC.

• If you think you may need vaccines, malaria advice and/or tablets, you should consult a travel health professional before departure for a travel health risk assessment.

You should not travel if you are already feeling unwell, as you risk infecting others, and also increase you risk of coming into contact with sick people if you need to visit a local medical facility during travel.

During Travel:

Make sure you take safe food and water precautions and wash your hands regularly to reduce your risk of infections commonly spread in contaminated food and water.

Practice respiratory hygiene to help reduce the risk of respiratory infection:

• Infectious diseases such as COVID-19 , measles and flu (influenza) can spread easily between people in crowded areas.

DRC is a high risk country for malaria and other infections transmitted by insect bites:

• You should take precautions to avoid malaria at all times. This includes taking antimalarial medication (as advised by a travel health professional) and avoiding insect bites at all times of the day and night.

Always practicesafer sex

• The use of condoms and regular sexual health testing can help reduce the risk of blood borne viruses and other sexual health risks, including mpox during travel

After Travel:

Seek immediate medical advice if you become unwell during travel to DRC.

If you or your family become unwell in the weeks/months after travel, particularly with a high fever, flu-like symptoms, rash and/or diarrhoea, you should seek urgent medical advice. Make sure you mention your recent travel history to the health professional, have travelled to a country where malaria is a risk.