The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that a recent surge in deaths in the southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was caused by a combination of malaria, common respiratory infections, and malnutrition. These factors had previously contributed to an unexplained spike in fatalities in the Panzi region, located about 700 kilometers (435 miles) southeast of the capital, Kinshasa.
Earlier this month, the DRC had declared a “maximum alert” in response to an “unknown public health event” that resulted in numerous deaths. Children under the age of five accounted for nearly half of the cases and fatalities linked to this undiagnosed illness.
The situation first emerged in late October, and health authorities in Panzi raised the alarm in late November as deaths began to increase. In response, enhanced surveillance was quickly put in place, focusing on tracking cases with symptoms such as fever, cough, body weakness, chills, headaches, and difficulty breathing, despite the absence of a clear diagnosis, the WHO explained.
From October 24 to December 16, a total of 891 cases were reported that met the criteria for the outbreak, with 48 deaths. Laboratory results from 430 samples taken as of December 16 showed positive results for malaria and several common respiratory viruses, including influenza, rhinoviruses, SARS-CoV-2, human coronaviruses, parainfluenza viruses, and human adenovirus.
The WHO noted that while further tests are ongoing, the findings suggest that the combination of seasonal viral respiratory infections and falciparum malaria, compounded by severe malnutrition, led to a rise in serious infections and deaths, especially among young children.
The WHO highlighted the significant health burden posed by common diseases like respiratory infections and malaria in vulnerable populations facing food insecurity. It assessed the public health risk in the affected communities as high, emphasizing the need for stronger malaria control measures and improved nutritional support. However, at the national level, the risk was considered low due to the localized nature of the event.
