DRC: WHO warns about the dangers of insecticides used in homes

Insecticides sold under the names Lava and Sniper, intended for agriculture or professional pest control, are being used in homes in the DRC. A study published in Clinical Toxicology recorded 22 suspected poisoning cases in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Kolwezi between December 2025 and February 2026; 14 people were hospitalized and all survived. Symptoms included headaches, dizziness, nausea and breathing difficulties, and one patient fell into a coma. The WHO classifies dichlorvos, found in these products, as a highly hazardous pesticide; on August 26, 2026, Congolese authorities banned its import, manufacture, distribution, sale and use.