Congo disease suspected in Treviso, one dead

A 55-year-old male who had recently returned from a visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has died, having presented symptoms consistent with the mysterious disease that is affecting the African country, namely fever, and haemorrhaging. The deceased was a resident of Trevignano, in the province of Treviso, Italy. This information was disclosed by the Veneto Region. Diagnostic investigations are currently underway in collaboration with the ‘Lazzaro Spallanzani’ Comprehensive Institute in Rome, to shed light on the aetiology of the disease. Pending diagnostic tests, public health measures were immediately implemented by the recommendations of the Ministry of Health, the ‘Spallanzani’ Institute, and the Italian Istituto Superiore di Sanità. The proposed protocol was initiated, including the implementation of home isolation for the single identified contact and the commencement of the requisite health surveillance procedures. Meanwhile, the DRC Ministry of Health has announced that the previously unidentified disease is a severe form of respiratory malaria exacerbated by malnutrition. This information was reported by the Reuters news agency on its website.