Unknown illness revealed in DRC

Health officials across the world have been monitoring an outbreak of an “unknown illness” in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since late November. Several likely causes were suggested.

According to the DRC’s Health Ministry, the mystery disease has now been confirmed to be severe malaria. The fatality rate is high.

It is not unusual to have outbreaks of exotic disease in this region of Africa (Ebola, Lassa fever, Marburg virus disease). On the other hand, you couldn’t exclude influenza, malaria or respiratory tract infections which can also have a high mortality rate in a vulnerable population with high levels of malnutrition.

The illness was first detected in Kwango province in the southwest. It is described as mostly respiratory related with nasal congestion, cough and breathing difficulties. In early reports it was mostly observed in young children and women. This would have been unusual for exotic disease. A team was dispatched from WHO to investigate the outbreak.

Respiratory symptoms, including cough, are commonly found in children with severe falciparum malaria. Severe respiratory distress is a good predictor of life-threatening disease. Aggressive management of the disease is usually required.