At least 146 people have died of malaria in the western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since the beginning of this year.

The surge comes as the country battles an Ebola outbreak that has killed more than 900 people in northeastern DRC since May.

Since January, more than 300 000 people have been infected with Malaria in DRC’s Western Province of Kwilu alone.The Provincial Health Minister says most of them had symptoms of fever, abdominal pain and vomiting, but almost 150 are known to have died.

Samples from infected patients were taken to the national laboratory in the capital, Kinshasa, where they tested positive for malaria.

Health officials say other infectious diseases have been ruled out.

The malaria outbreak has been overshadowed by the Ebola outbreak, which has spread rapidly in the northeast of the DRC since it was declared in mid-May.

The rising number of Ebola cases has prompted the Canadian government to temporarily deny entry to foreign nationals who have been to the DRC within the previous 21 days.

Canadian officials say the move is aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola.

It comes a week after the United States announced (US) new travel restrictions for Americans returning from the DRC. Under the new rules, US citizens who have visited the DRC must spend 21 days in a third country before travelling home.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global health emergency due to the Ebola outbreak in the DRC on May 17 warning neighbouring countries to strengthen surveillance and preparedness.

But the WHO advised countries to avoid imposing travel restrictions, saying the move discourages transparency in reporting new Ebola cases.

However, their call has gone unheeded as the number of Ebola cases continues to rise in the DRC.

–SABC–