The health agency of the African Union has announced that the previously unknown disease that caused the deaths of dozens of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo is most likely malaria.
The health agency of the African Union has announced that the previously unknown disease that caused the deaths of dozens of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo is most likely malaria.
The disease, first detected at the end of October, has been concentrated in the Panzi region, located about 700 kilometers (435 miles) southeast of the capital, Kinshasa.
Ngashi Ngongo, Secretary General and Executive Office Head of the Africa CDC, stated in an online briefing, “The current working diagnosis is malaria.”
Experts noted that the situation has been worsened by malnutrition in the region, which is considered the most likely hypothesis.
‘Viral Hemorrhagic’ Disease
Ngongo also pointed out that the possibility of a viral hemorrhagic disease emerging in the context of malaria has not been ruled out.
According to data from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 600 cases have been reported in health facilities in Panzi, with 37 people succumbing to the disease.
Around 44 additional deaths at the community level have been reported and are under investigation.
The region is difficult to access by road, and the health infrastructure is inadequate. Additionally, local residents face a shortage of drinking water and medicine.
Symptoms
According to Congolese authorities, the region, which experienced a severe typhoid outbreak two years ago, is also facing one of the highest malnutrition rates in the country, at 61%.
Earlier this month, epidemiologists ruled out coronavirus but concluded it to be a disease affecting the respiratory system.
Symptoms include fever, cough, and headaches.
Preliminary data show that the disease particularly affects the younger population, with 40% of cases involving children under five years old.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world’s poorest countries, has also become the epicenter of the recent mpox outbreak, which has led to the deaths of over 1,000 people in recent months.
