Malaria Confirmed as Cause of Fatal Outbreak in DRC, 52 Dead

The National Public Health Institute of the Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed that malaria was the cause of an outbreak that resulted in over 50 deaths in Equateur province earlier this year. More than 943 people exhibited symptoms including fever, fatigue, vomiting, and weight loss, leading health officials to initially suspect malaria or food poisoning. Testing conducted by the INSP confirmed malaria as the cause, quelling weeks of uncertainty about the illness's origin. Further investigations are ongoing, with samples of water, drinks, and food sent abroad for analysis to rule out contamination. This incident marks the second recent outbreak in the DRC where an unidentified illness was later identified as malaria, the first occurring last December. INSP coordinator Christian Ngandu emphasized the importance of these findings for public health safety.