CNN A mysterious illness outbreak that has sickened at least 416 people and killed 31 in a remote region of the Democratic Republic of Congo may be at least partly caused by malaria, health officials said Tuesday.
Information on the situation is still limited. World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that of 12 initial samples collected from patients, 10 tested positive for malaria, “although it’s possible that more than one disease is involved,” he said.
Patients’ symptoms have included headache, cough, fever, breathing difficulties, body aches and anemia. Most of the cases and deaths are in children under the age of 14.