In the northwest region of Congo, hundreds have been diagnosed with malaria amidst a rapid increase in illnesses that have resulted in over 1,000 cases and claimed at least 60 lives. Health authorities face the challenge of identifying the source of this upsurge. Though malaria is common in the Equateur province, the World Health Organization (WHO) has not yet excluded other potential causes for the outbreak. As such, the WHO continues to probe whether these outbreaks are interconnected, underlining the necessity for more detailed epidemiological and clinical research, along with additional lab tests.
Since late January, when the first outbreaks emerged in two villages over 100 miles apart, nearly 1,100 cases have been documented. Africa’s leading public health institution is exploring various potential sources, including food, water, or even flu and typhoid infections, in at least five villages. Despite these investigations, signs continue to heavily indicate malaria as the root cause, according to Dr. Ngashi Ngongo from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The initial outbreak came to light in the village of Boloko following the tragic deaths of three children who consumed a bat. WHO has since registered 12 cases and eight fatalities in Boloko. Alarmingly, almost half of the fatalities occurred mere hours after symptoms appeared.
The situation is particularly acute in Bomate, situated approximately 200 kilometers from Boloko, where 98% of the cases and 86% of the deaths have been recorded, as stated by WHO. Of the 571 individuals tested for malaria in the Basankusu health zone, 309 (or 54.1%) returned positive results. Common symptoms have included fever and body aches, with chills, sweating, stiff necks, runny or bleeding noses, coughs, vomiting, and diarrhea also reported.
The alarming spread of illness has sparked fear among local inhabitants. Eddy Djoboke, for example, fled Bomate with his family out of fear of contracting the illness. Sadly, after relocating, one of his children began experiencing neck and stomach pain, indicating a potential prior infection.
“We were advised to undergo testing and are awaiting further instructions,” stated Djoboke.
Similarly, Marthe Biyombe’s child was afflicted with widespread pain and fever after contracting the illness in Bomate. Despite initial struggles due to a medication shortage at the hospital, Biyombe managed to purchase necessary drugs privately and later benefited from WHO’s assistance when additional medical supplies were provided.
“We spent two weeks in the hospital without any medicine,” Biyombe said. “We had to buy the medicines elsewhere, but later WHO doctors supplied these drugs.” She refrained from specifying the particular medications administered to her child.
Experts highlight the challenge of accessing affected areas, given their remote locations, noting that several individuals succumbed to the illness before medical teams could reach them.
