Unknown Disease Claims 79 Lives Amid Gates Foundation Scrutiny

An unknown flu-like disease has killed at least 79 people in southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo, primarily affecting young people aged 15 to 18. Over 300 people have been infected, displaying symptoms such as fever, headaches, coughs, breathing difficulties, and anemia. The outbreak is concentrated in the Panzi health zone of Kwango Province.

Health officials, including a World Health Organization (WHO) team, have been dispatched to investigate. They are collecting samples for lab testing while urging residents to follow health precautions such as handwashing and avoiding mass gatherings. The government has acknowledged severe medicine shortages, complicating the response effort.

There is no verified link between this outbreak and any recent vaccine rollouts by the Gates Foundation or other organizations, as some rumors have suggested. Authorities continue to investigate the cause and manage the growing crisis.

This skepticism comes at a time when the Gates Foundation itself is facing its own legal troubles in Kenya. The Kenyan High Court recently issued a temporary suspension of the special privileges and immunities granted to the foundation, following a petition filed by the Law Society of Kenya.

The suspension, which remains in effect until the next court hearing in February 2025, casts a shadow over the foundation’s ability to operate freely in the country.

Adding fuel to the fire, the Gates Foundation's recent announcement of a $40 million investment to support mRNA vaccine production in Africa has raised more eyebrows. With partnerships in Senegal and South Africa, the foundation is working to develop these advanced vaccines, but critics have begun to wonder whether such initiatives are tied to the current health crisis in Congo. Although the foundation maintains that there is no connection, the timing and context of these events are hard to ignore.

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