An unidentified disease has claimed the lives of 143 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), triggering concern from the World Health Organization.

The illness presents flu-like symptoms, including high fever and severe headaches, with women and children being the most affected, according to local officials. The deaths have been primarily reported in Kwango province in the southwest of the DRC, near the border with Angola.

Remy Saki, deputy governor of Kwango, and Apollinaire Yumba, the province’s health minister, stated that health authorities are currently collecting samples and conducting tests to determine the disease responsible for the outbreak.

The situation is described as “extremely worrying,” with the death toll continuing to rise rapidly. As of November 25, the number of fatalities was reported at 67.

Many victims are dying in their homes, and access to treatment remains a major challenge. The DRC is also grappling with a monkeypox outbreak at the same time.

Health officials have yet to provide results from ongoing tests, and it remains unclear whether patients have been ruled out for other common diseases.

Although the specific cause of the outbreak is unknown, the DRC has previously experienced more than 12 Ebola outbreaks. Ebola, which can be transmitted by fruit bats, causes flu-like symptoms followed by nausea, bleeding, and neurological complications. The 2019 outbreak of Ebola in the country saw over 3,250 cases and 2,100 deaths.