Mysterious disease in Congo a severe form of malaria – Health ministry

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) health ministry has identified the previously mysterious illness in the Panzi health zone as a severe form of malaria exacerbated by malnutrition.

In a statement reported by Reuters, the ministry declared that “the mystery has finally been solved,” attributing the illness to severe malaria presenting as a respiratory illness. Since October, 592 cases have been reported, with a fatality rate of 6.2 percent.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) have yet to comment on the diagnosis.

On December 5, Roger Kamba, the DRC’s health minister, provided further details, confirming 71 deaths in the southern Kwango province. These included 27 hospital deaths, with 10 due to lack of blood transfusion and 17 linked to respiratory complications. An additional 44 deaths were recorded in the community.

Kamba noted symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, cough, and anaemia. The deaths were recorded between November 10 and 25 in Panzi, with around 380 cases prompting the dispatch of epidemiological experts to collect samples and investigate further. However, the Africa CDC has reported slightly different figures, citing 376 cases and 79 deaths.