Main health risks for Congo

Diseases transmitted by insects or animals

The main cases of mortality and morbidity in the country are malaria, diarrheas, tuberculosis and HIV.

The whole country is malarial, with an all-year-round transmission. Strains are highly resistant to chloroquine (zone 3).

There are episodic outbreaks of yellow fever. No outbreak of yellow fever had been reported since 1981, until one case was confirmed in the department of Cuvette-Ouest on January 28th, 2009.

A chikungunya outbreak which started in June 2011 in Brazzaville, has now spread to Pointe-Noire as well as to the neighbouring Pool region. During the first three weeks of June more than 7,000 cases, none of which lethal, have been reported in the capital city. Symptoms of this mosquito-borne disease are: fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea. In severe cases, the pain associated with the infection of the joints persists for weeks or months.

Outbreaks of hemorrhagic fevers have been reported. From April to June 2005, a total of 12 cases of Ebola hemorrhagic fever including 9 deaths has been reported in Cuvette region. Due to the risk of Ebola and of Marburg hemorrhagic fever, travelers are advised not to eat bush meat.

The risk of trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) is high in savannas south of Niari and in Bouenza, Pool, Plateaux, Likouala, Sangha and Cuvette districts. The disease is transmitted by the bite of the tsetse fly. Symptoms begin with fever and headache continues with mental confusions, insomnia at night and daytime slumber. If not treated, the disease can be fatal.

There are cases of animal rabies in the country.

Diseases transmitted by food, water or through the environment

Bilharziosis is present mainly in the Brazzaville area and in the south-west of the country. Leptospirosis is also present in the country. Due to these risks, travelers are advised not to bathe in fresh waters (lake, rivers) or walk barefoot.

Diarrheic diseases are frequent. Outbreaks of cholera may occur at any time. A cholera outbreak started in March 2011 in Kisangani (DR Congo). The disease has now spread westward along the Congo river. From June 14th to August 29th, health authorities reported 341 suspected cases (20 deaths) in Congo. Cholera cases have been confirmed in Brazzaville and Likouala. In order to minimize risks, it is recommended to wash hands thoroughly before meals, and to use uncontaminated water.

In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified 66 confirmed cases of poliomyelitis in the Republic of Congo. In 2011, one case has been reported countrywide. Poliomyelitis is an infectious disease transmitted via the oro-fecal route. It may cause paralysis. An efficient vaccine exists against this disease.

Diseases transmitted by contact with infected people

The HIV prevalence is preoccupying: 3.5% of the population between the ages of 15 and 49 is HIV-positive. 80 000 persons are living with AIDS in Congo. HIV is regularly associated with an increase in tuberculosis cases.

Outbreaks of hemorrhagic fevers have occurred occasionally; the Ebola virus is present in woody areas. Between April and June 2005, 12 cases of Ebola hemorrhagic fever (including 9 deaths) have been reported in Cuvette-Ouest region. The virus is transmitted through contact with body fluids (blood and secretions) or the infected subjects' organs. Furthermore, it is has now been established that manipulating an infected animals or its remains can also lead to an infection.

Cases of meningitis have been reported.

Approximately 800 cases of measles have been reported in the southern departement of Kouilou surrounding the city of Pointe-Noire. Measles is an infectious disease transmitted through contact with the nose and throat discharges of an infected person, for instance when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Measles mainly affects young children and remains a leading cause of infant mortality. Symptoms are: high temperature, skin eruptions, pimples, sore eyes and cough. An efficient vaccine exists against the disease.