Congolese necrotic disease that killed more than 140 people has been identified
Dec 20, 2024
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Local health authorities explain that severe malaria and malnutrition have worsened.
According to foreign media such as CBS and Daily Star, about 400 unknown cases with flu-like symptoms have been reported in cardboard areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Quango province since the end of October.
Patients developed symptoms such as headache, fever, cough, and body aches.
In the early days, fears grew that a new pathogen like COVID-19 could have emerged and could be 'disease X'.
Meanwhile, Congo's Ministry of Health recently said "The quibble has finally been lifted. It turned out to be severe malaria in the form of a respiratory disease."
Public health experts now characterize the disease as severe malaria, explaining that widespread malnutrition has weakened people's ability to fight the disease, making them vulnerable to infection and worsening symptoms.
Congo maintains a 'maximum vigilance' accordingly. The virus has a mortality rate of 6.25%, with mainly women and children susceptible to infection and a relatively high mortality rate.
This is due to decreased immunity due to lack of nutrition.
More than half of the actual deaths were children under the age of five, according to the survey, who were severely malnourished.
Health authorities said the diagnosis was delayed because the outbreak area was located in a remote location"The situation is exacerbated by uncontrolled malaria, extreme food insecurity, limited access to vaccines and diagnoses, and medical aid is also difficult due to difficulties in accessing the region."
The World Health Organization says "The ongoing rainy season is making access more difficult."In addition, supplies and transportation are poor, and medical staff are scarce." It is said that it currently takes about 48 hours by land from the capital, Kinshasa.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
