Mystery disease in Congo might be malaria – Authorities
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Atumisi Anaclet cares for a sex worker diagnosed with mpox on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, at the general hospital in Kamituga, eastern Congo.
Authorities in Congo are investigating a mysterious flu-like illness that has recently claimed the lives of dozens of people in the southwest. Preliminary results from laboratory tests suggest that malaria might be the cause of the outbreak, although experts are continuing to investigate. Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, the director-general of the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa, stated on Wednesday that out of 12 samples taken, nine tested positive for malaria. However, he noted that the samples were not of high quality, and further research is needed to determine whether this is a malaria epidemic or if other diseases are involved. “It is likely malaria because most of the victims are children,” Dr. Muyembe said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also confirmed that most of the samples tested positive for malaria, but the organization acknowledged that there might be multiple factors at play. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that additional samples would be collected and tested to confirm the disease responsible for the outbreak.
The mysterious illness has been spreading in the Panzi health zone, located in Congo’s western Kwango province. According to the WHO, there have been 416 reported cases and 31 deaths in hospitals in recent weeks. An additional 44 deaths have been reported in the community. The majority of the cases and fatalities are among children under the age of 14, with the Panzi region being particularly hard hit. This region is remote and difficult to access, which has complicated efforts to understand the full extent of the outbreak.
Ezekiel Kasongo, a resident of Panzi, shared his experience with the illness. His 9-year-old son fell ill two weeks ago, exhibiting symptoms such as a high fever, headache, and extreme weakness. After being hospitalized, the boy recovered and was recently discharged. “We were very worried because of the number of deaths, especially among children, but God be praised, he is out,” Kasongo told the Associated Press.
The disease’s symptoms include fever, headache, cough, and anemia, which are also common signs of malaria. Experts from Congo’s National Rapid Response Team and the WHO visited Panzi last week to collect samples and investigate the outbreak. The remote nature of the Panzi health zone has delayed the investigation, with experts taking two days to reach the area. The health zone is located around 435 miles (700 kilometers) from Kinshasa, the country’s capital.
Due to limited local testing capacity, the samples had to be sent to Kikwit, a city located more than 500 kilometers away. Dieudonne Mwamba, the head of the National Institute for Public Health, confirmed this last week. Mwamba also pointed out that Panzi had experienced a typhoid fever epidemic two years ago, which may have contributed to the region’s vulnerability. He also noted that there is currently a resurgence of seasonal flu across the country, which could further complicate the identification of the disease.
The region also faces high levels of malnutrition and low vaccination coverage, leaving children particularly susceptible to infectious diseases. According to the WHO, these factors could be contributing to the spread of the illness and increasing its severity. The WHO’s Director-General Tedros further emphasized the importance of improving local health infrastructure and expanding vaccination programs to prevent similar outbreaks in the future.
Although malaria is a common disease in sub-Saharan Africa, the ongoing investigation is critical to confirm whether it is the sole cause of the outbreak or if there are other factors involved. The authorities are working diligently to monitor the situation and respond with appropriate interventions. As more data is collected and analyzed, health experts hope to gain a clearer understanding of the outbreak and how best to mitigate its impact, particularly on vulnerable populations like children.
The situation in Panzi highlights the ongoing challenges Congo faces in addressing health crises in remote areas, where access to medical care and resources is limited. The outcome of this investigation will play a key role in shaping future responses to public health emergencies in the country.
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