The elderly and children under the age of 14 have been the most commonly reported victims.

In South Sudan, a mysterious disease has killed dozens of people. The World Health Organization (WHO) is looking into a mysterious disease.

In Fangak, Jonglei State, in the northern portion of the country, 97 individuals have succumbed thus far from an unexplained illness.

Biel Boutros Biel, the Fangak County Commissioner, said that an elderly woman was the latest victim.

According to a statement from South Sudan’s Ministry of Health, the majority of deaths have been reported among the elderly and children aged one to fourteen.

Cough, diarrhea, fever, headache, chest pain, joint pain, loss of appetite, and weakness are some of the symptoms of the unknown sickness, according to officials.

The WHO delegation that visited Fangak, according to Biel, has since left but has not informed local officials of their findings.

Collins Boakye-Agyemang, a representative for WHO Africa, told ABC News that the organization began investigating the epidemic in November but did not disclose any specifics.

Because the area has recently seen major flooding, the WHO examined samples from patients for cholera, which is normally contracted from contaminated water supplies, according to BBC News.

The samples, however, tested negative for the contagious bacterial condition, according to the outlet.

Sheila Baya, a lecturer in the College of Medicine at the University of Juba in South Sudan, told BBC News that due to the flooding, WHO scientists had to reach Fangak by helicopter to conduct testing.

Several non-governmental organizations have sent medical supplies to Fangak and are planning to set up mobile clinics to help treat people, Biel told ABC News.

Last month, the international humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) described the floods as a “perfect storm” for disease outbreaks.

“People do not have enough water or options for water storage, and there is no garbage collection, while dead goats and dogs are left rotting in the drainage systems,” the statement said.

“With the conditions further worsened by the influx of new arrivals [at camps], people are at higher risk of outbreaks and waterborne diseases such as acute watery diarrhea, cholera and malaria.”

Image Credit: Getty

You were reading: An unknown disease has killed dozens of people in Africa: what are the symptoms?