EU Commission adopts wait-and-see approach with mystery Congo virus

The EU is still assessing the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and will convene discuss the issue in a Health Security Committee meeting with European national health authorities, according to a Commission spokesperson.  

The unknown virus had infected 376 people and killed 79, according to the latest data. The disease has flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, cough, and anaemia, reported local health authorities.  

The Health Security Committee (HSC) comprises representatives from the health authorities of EU member states, with candidate and potential candidate countries participating as observers. It is responsible for coordinating the EU’s rapid response to serious cross-border health threats. 

“We try to gather the information, and I can assure you that our people, our experts are on the spot,” added the spokesperson. 

The virus primarily affects children and was first detected in late October in the Kwango province, in the southwest of the central African country. 

The Commission highlighted that the remote location of the outbreak – a 48-hour journey from the capital, Kinshasa – complicates response efforts, particularly as there is no laboratory capacity in the affected area. 

So far, there are no reported cases of the unknown virus in Europe, the spokesperson added.  

The European Commission said that it is working closely with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), both of which have teams on the ground.  

The ECDC is monitoring the situation in collaboration with Africa CDC, with staff already deployed in Kinshasa as part of its Mpox response. The Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) is also involved in addressing the crisis.