Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo Linked to Respiratory Infections and Malaria

Mystery Disease In Congo Caused By Acute Respiratory Infections, Says WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report stating that the mystery illness affecting people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is likely caused by acute respiratory infections exacerbated by malaria and malnutrition.

According to the report, laboratory tests have confirmed that 72% of samples obtained from patients were positive for common respiratory viruses. The most common viruses detected were influenza A virus, rhinoviruses, and SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is responsible for COVID-19.

Moreover, over 60% of analyzed samples tested positive for malaria, a parasite that causes the life-threatening illness known as malaria. Notably, malaria is a widespread problem in the DRC, accounting for approximately 12% of all cases and deaths worldwide. Children are disproportionately affected by this disease, which has devastating consequences.

The report also emphasizes that children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable to this illness due to their compromised immune systems. This increased vulnerability further highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive public health response in the region.

Furthermore, an alarming 891 cases and 48 deaths have been reported to date, with children making up half of all reported cases and fatalities. The majority of adult cases (66%) involve women, which could be attributed to varying household transmission dynamics that are driven by increased maternal care for infected children.

In addition, the report highlights the dire food security situation in the affected region, which has led to a significant rise in acute malnutrition rates. Alarmingly, over 4.5 million children under five in the DRC are at risk of or will experience severe malnutrition due to these deteriorating living conditions.

The report concludes that the local community faces a high risk of further transmission and complications, while the national, regional, and global risks remain low.

In light of this new information, it is imperative to continue monitoring the situation closely and expanding testing capabilities to determine the full extent of the outbreak.

Source: http://www.forbes.com