Science and Medicine

2024 Kwango province malaria outbreak

An outbreak of a severe type of malaria began in October 2024 in the southwestern region of Kwango Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The cause of the outbreak was initially unidentified, raising concerns that it could be a novel pathogen and leading some to refer to it as "Disease X". The outbreak has been primarily in the Panzi rural health zone and prompted investigation by local and international health organizations. By early December, between 31 to 143 deaths were reported. On 5 December, the disease was reported as having spread to Katenda, also in the Kwango Province. On 10 December, the disease was reported to have spread to Mai-Ndombe Province. From 5–12 December, 147 new cases were reported, a 30 case increase from the week before. On 17 December, Congo's health ministry confirmed the outbreak was caused by a severe form of malaria with co-occurring respiratory illnesses, worsened by malnutrition.

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See also

• ▸Ebola virus epidemic in Liberia
• ▸Constance Thalken
• ▸Gaza humanitarian crisis

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