At the beginning of January, MSF, present in Ituri since 2003, was alerted by the local health authorities of a possible meningitis epidemic in the Nono area. An emergency team was deployed to provide care for the patients starting to flood into the area. “Our medical team quickly realised that this was not meningitis. The lumbar puncture procedures that we carried out were all negative and no deaths were registered,” explains Philippe Latour, Head of Mission for MSF in DRC.

In February, tests carried out by the Congolese health ministry completely ruled out the possibility of meningitis but did not determine the cause of this mysterious syndrome. The syndrome was characterised by dystonia - or motor impairment - which manifested in involuntary twitching. It also led to abnormal posture and facial asymmetry.

A counterfeit drug on the local market

MSF sent urine samples to a French laboratory with initial results showing the presence of haloperidol, a neuroleptic drug that is used to treat psychoses such as schizophrenia. “This drug is known to cause symptoms of dystonia, the same as those that were observed in the patients. We then found haloperidol in tablets sold using the name of diazepam on the local market. Although diazepam is not widely prescribed, it is often used in this region to treat sleep problems, headaches and muscular pain as well as to treat cases of uncomplicated malaria,” explains Adélaïde Ouabo, medical coordinator for MSF in DRC.

At this point, MSF alerted the health ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) to the fact that this syndrome was probably caused by drug poisoning. At the end of June, MSF and the health authorities launched an investigation in order to confirm these initial findings and to rule out any other hypotheses. The WHO also issued an alert clearly identifying the suspicious products and their side effects. The health ministry then sent personnel to the area to implement measures to stop the syndrome from spreading, and requested anyone prescribing the drug in question to stop doing so.

Several weeks ago, MSF commenced the handover of its medical activities to the health authorities in the area. “The number of cases has declined significantly, and at the moment we see around ten cases per week,” continues Latour. “Since our activities began we have involved local medical personnel in patient care. Although we inform patients of the causes of this syndrome, which in theory is not life-threatening or irreversible, the health ministry must also organise a mass information campaign to protect the public. Furthermore, it is paramount that the counterfeit drugs be taken off the market.”

MSF plans to finish the handover of its activities by the end of September.