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Decoding the mysterious disease that killed more than 50 people in Congo

TB (summary) March 26, 2025 05:25

Test results show that the mysterious disease that has infected at least 943 people in Equateur province (Democratic Republic of Congo), of which 52 have died, is actually malaria.

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Medical workers transport bodies found in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, February 5, 2025

On March 24, the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced that test results showed that the initially unidentified disease that has killed more than 50 people in the northwest of the country is actually malaria.

Earlier this year, at least 943 people in Equateur province contracted a "mystery illness," killing 52 of them.

Symptoms of the disease include fever, fatigue, vomiting and weight loss. Initially, health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo suspected the cause of death could be malaria or food poisoning.

INSP coordinator Christian Ngandu said test results of the samples confirmed that it was malaria.

An outbreak last December, initially of unknown cause, was eventually identified as malaria.

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Decoding the mysterious disease that killed more than 50 people in Congo