Laboratory tests have confirmed that an outbreak of the disease that has killed more than 50 people in the northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was caused by malaria, the country’s National Institute of Public Health (INSP) said on Monday.
Since the beginning of the year, at least 943 people in Equatoria state have fallen ill with symptoms including fever, fatigue, vomiting and weight loss. The outbreak has resulted in 52 deaths.
Health authorities initially suspected malaria or food poisoning as possible causes. However, laboratory analysis confirmed malaria as the source of the outbreak, according to INSP coordinator Christian Ngandu.
Despite the findings, further tests are being conducted on water, beverages and food samples sent abroad to rule out possible poisoning.
A separate outbreak of the disease in December, the source of which was initially unknown, was later identified as malaria.