Mystery as 13 children die from unknown 'coughing' disease that's 'eating away' at community | The Sun

A MYSTERIOUS coughing disease has claimed the lives of 13 children under the age of two, in the DCR, central Africa.

All 13 children died in a rural province named Tshopo, and passed away in soon after symptoms first emerged, ACP Congo reports.

Symptoms were flu-like and include coughing and a high fever.

Local residents are calling on health authorities to send teams to help contain the disease that is "eating away" at the community.

"I witnessed a bereavement of a child of about one year and eight months. Before this child, there were already eight others who died of a disease of unknown origin," local man, Jean Pierre Litwanga, told the news agency in March.

"All those who died had coughs, fevers and after some time they died. Yangilimo village has already recorded nine deaths and Taseko village four," he added.

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Another local, Jean Mwanakoy, saie he had alerted the health authorities of the outbreak.

"I am sending a message to the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Prevention to send a team to the field to find what is eating away at the community of Turumbu," he said.

In January, close to 20,000 suspected measles cases were recorded in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DCR) as aid agencies battled to contain the outbreak.

One of the world's most contagious diseases, measles, an acute viral respiratory illness, has become endemic in the DRC with outbreaks every two to three years.

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Symptoms of the bug include a high temperature, a runny nose, sneezing and a cough.

The virus, which can lead to serious brain and lung issues, is entirely preventable through the MMR vaccine.

However, it requires 95 per cent vaccine coverage to prevent outbreaks among populations.

And according to the World Health Organization vaccine coverage has plummeted during the pandemic, leaving millions of children open to infection.

The announcement comes soon after neighbouring country Tanzania announced an outbreak of Margburg for the first time, in which eight people developed symptoms and five died.

All cases were discovered in the north west of Tanzania, which directly borders the DCR.

Meanwhile, another unknown disease claimed the lives of three people in Burundi, west Africa.

All those who died in the bordering country away within 24 hours of showing symptom, local media website SOS Media Burundi reports.

Symptoms of the illness include fever, headaches, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness and nosebleeds.

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