A May 21 report in Le Voix de l'Ituri in the northeast DR Congo: Ituri / Health: 15 suspected cases of pulmonary plague including 11 deaths recorded in Djugu territory. The Google translation:
A disease similar to pulmonary plague is observed in the area of Fataki in the territory of Djugu in the province of Ituri.
In a lively press briefing on Friday, May 21 in Bunia, the head of the provincial health division of ituri indicated that everything dates back to April 23, 2021 in the health zone of Fataki. The victims show symptoms of headache, fever, cough and vomiting blood. The report shows 15 cases including 11 deaths so far.
"The first case was that of a woman who had died in the Fataki area of health, health area Bukachele.Une week later, on April 30, a 30 year old man was dead after showing the same symptoms. On May 8, there was another man who had died. We were alerted when there were already 5 deaths in this health area in the same family. There were after, two people who had left instead of the funeral in Bukachele who, on their return, became ill and died in Bhule. This is what prompted our Fataki intervention team to investigate. On May 19, there were two more deaths in Bukachele and two other deaths in Bhule, including a traditional practitioner who treated the sick,“ said Doctor Louis Tchulo in the remarks collected by lavoixdelituri.net.
In addition, he indicated that four other suspects with the same symptoms are currently being treated in health facilities including two in Bhule and two others in Bukachele.
"Our team began to identify all the contacts that were with the other patients who died. We also proceeded to the dignified and secure burial of 4 bodies on May 18 and 19 and it did not constitute a danger for the community. What remains for us is to send a team to collect the samples, mainly the sputum that we will bring to the laboratory for confirmation,” he added.
Since this disease is transmitted by air, Doctor Louis Tchulo invites the population of Fataki in particular and of Djugu in general, to regularly wear masks, to respect physical distancing, to avoid the handling of corpses and to 'alert on all suspected cases.
It should be remembered that this disease is in addition to the bubonic plague reported since 2020 in Ituri with 461 cases of which 31 deaths have been reported. Since the start of the current year, 75 cases have already been recorded with 1 death in 8 health zones including Biringi, Rethy, Aru, Aungba, Linga, Logo, Rimba and Kambala.
A May 24 report in provinces26rdc.net says the case count is now up to 90, with 12 deaths.
