A previously unidentified disease that has claimed 143 lives in southwestern DR Congo has been confirmed as a severe form of malaria, according to the country’s Health Ministry. The outbreak, which began in October, has affected 592 people, with a fatality rate of 6.2%, primarily impacting children in the Kwango province.
The disease, initially suspected to be something new, presented symptoms like fever, cough, body aches, and respiratory issues. Local authorities confirmed it was a case of severe malaria, worsened by widespread malnutrition in the region. The World Health Organization (WHO) has deployed experts to assist in controlling the outbreak.
Malaria remains one of the deadliest diseases worldwide, particularly in Africa, with nearly 600,000 deaths annually.
