Congo's health ministry says unknown disease is severe malaria

Source: Reuters

Democratic Republic of Congo's health ministry said on Tuesday that a previously unidentified disease circulating in the country's Panzi health zone is a severe form of malaria.

Earlier this month, local authorities said the disease had killed 143 people in the southwestern Kwango province in November.

"The mystery has finally been solved. It's a case of severe malaria in the form of a respiratory illness... and weakened by malnutrition," the health ministry said in a statement.

It also said that 592 cases had been reported since October with a fatality rate of 6.2%.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/congos-health-ministry-says-unknown-disease-is-severe-malaria-2024-12-17/