Severe Malaria Identified as Cause of Deadly Outbreak in Congo

The disease, which has killed 143 people and infected nearly 600 since October, primarily affects children and is exacerbated by malnutrition in remote areas.

Congo's health ministry confirmed that a previously unidentified illness in the southwestern Kwango province is a severe form of malaria presenting as a respiratory illness.
The outbreak has caused 143 deaths and 592 reported cases, with a fatality rate of 6.2%, primarily affecting malnourished children under five.
The World Health Organization has dispatched medical supplies and anti-malarial drugs to the affected region, with additional health kits arriving this week.
Challenges in addressing the outbreak include the remoteness of the Panzi health zone, poor infrastructure, and limited diagnostic and treatment resources.
Malaria remains a leading cause of death in Congo, and global cases have risen due to factors such as climate change and resistance to treatments.