An image is provided showing a scenario that prompted worry in the Equateur province of Congo, where various fatalities and several cases were initially suspected to be caused by an unidentified disease. However, subsequent investigations by health officials have concluded that these incidents were due to malaria. Congolese authorities have recorded over 1,000 malaria cases leading to at least 60 deaths in the region located in northwest Congo.

The World Health Organization, while acknowledging that malaria is endemic in this area, is still inspecting the situation to rule out any additional factors that may have contributed to the upsurge in infections. The UN health agency is uncertain whether the various outbreaks in different areas are linked or separate occurrences, and more detailed health and lab analyses are required to understand the situation better.

Approximately 1,100 cases have been tallied since the outbreaks commenced in late January in two villages separated by over 100 miles. The African public health organization is probing into whether contaminated water or food sources, or illnesses like flu and typhoid, might also be playing a part in the illnesses. But initial test results mostly indicate malaria. Dr. Ngashi Ngongo from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated in an online briefing that “out of 70 blood smear tests conducted, around 78% showed positive for malaria, whereas rapid tests demonstrated about 55% positivity.”

Source: http://www.africanews.com/2025/02/28/drc-malaria-cited-as-cause-of-deaths-and-infections-in-equateur-province/