Acute Respiratory Infections Complicated by Malaria

At the end of 2024, an undiagnosed disease was discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On 29 November 2024, an alert was raised by local health zone authorities of Panzi health zone in Kwango province in Congo after an increase in deaths, particularly among children under five years of age, following a febrile illness. Epidemiological surveillance found syndromic cases of febrile illnesses with cough, body weakness, with one of a number of other symptoms compatible with acute respiratory and febrile illnesses.

This resulted in a rapid increase in the number of cases meeting the definition. Between 24 October and 16 December 2024, a total of 891 cases an 48 deaths met the case definition. However, the weekly number of reported deaths (48 deaths reported over the period) has remained relatively stable.

Laboratory results from a total of 430 samples indicated positive results for malaria, common respiratory viruses (Influenza A (H1N1), rhinoviruses, SARS-COV-2, Human coronaviruses, parainfluenza viruses, and Human Adenovirus).

While further laboratory tests are ongoing, together these findings suggest that a combination of common and seasonal viral respiratory infections and falciparum malaria, compounded by acute malnutrition led to an increase in severe infections and deaths, disproportionally affecting children under five years of age.

This event highlights the severe burden from common infectious diseases (acute respiratory infections and malaria) in a context of vulnerable populations facing food insecurity.

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