Mystery 'Disease X' kills at least 143 in Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO investigates

A mysterious disease referred to as 'Disease X' has caused at least 143 deaths and nearly 400 reported cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), primarily affecting young individuals aged 15 to 18, according to multiple reports. The outbreak began on October 24 in the Kwango province, which borders Angola. The government is on "maximum alert" due to the severity of the situation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) dispatched a team of experts to the affected region to assist local authorities in investigating the outbreak and determining the cause of the disease, as reported by Modern Ghana. The WHO team includes epidemiologists, clinical doctors, laboratory technicians, infection control specialists, and risk communication experts, according to O Globo.

Samples from infected patients have been collected and sent to central laboratories in Kinshasa for analysis, with results expected within 24 to 48 hours. "We are waiting for the laboratory results in the next 24 to 48 hours, so that we know exactly what it is," said Dieudonné Mwamba, director general of the National Public Health Institute, according to Süddeutsche Zeitung.

The disease manifests with flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, headache, difficulty breathing, and anemia. Infected individuals also experience high fever, severe headaches, general weakness, severe limb pain, and diarrhea, according to Mirror. The symptoms resemble those of COVID-19, reported Süddeutsche Zeitung.

"The highest state of alert applies. That means we consider it a kind of epidemic that must be monitored as closely as possible," said the DRC health minister, Roger Kamba.

The disease is particularly affecting children, with nearly 200 out of the 394 reported cases involving children under five years old, reported Die Welt. Mwamba noted that the area is "fragile," with 40% of residents suffering from malnutrition, making them particularly susceptible to diseases, according to DW.

An epidemiologist noted that women and children are the most seriously affected by the disease. "The situation is extremely alarming, as the number of cases continues to grow," said civil society leader Cephorien Manzanza, reported The Mirror.

Infrastructure challenges are exacerbating the crisis in Kwango province, as reported by Modern Ghana. Patients have died at home due to being unable to receive treatment, attributed to a lack of medical facilities and a dilapidated health infrastructure, according to Mirror.

The cause and mode of transmission of the disease are still unclear. Mwamba said the illness seems to be airborne as it is targeting the respiratory system.

Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, commented on the situation "Situations like this occur probably several times a year around the world," he is cited as saying by NPR. He emphasized the importance of quick intervention. "We need to make sure that we have the resources to intervene quickly both for the local population's wellbeing and to ensure the disease doesn't cross international borders," he said.

Anne Rimoin, an epidemiologist at UCLA, noted that diagnosing diseases in the DRC can often be difficult due to limited healthcare infrastructure and underlying health issues among residents, including malaria and malnutrition, reported The Mirror. "It could be anything. It could be influenza, it could be Ebola, it could be Marburg, it could be meningitis, it could be measles. At this point, we really just don't know," she is cited as saying by Forbes.

The WHO is investigating respiratory pathogens such as influenza and COVID-19 as possible causes of 'Disease X,' while also considering malaria, measles, and other potential agents, according to O Globo.

Jean Kaseya, the Director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), expressed readiness for the laboratory results. He also emphasized the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance systems in the DRC to prevent delays in outbreak detection, arguing that "this is a case for strengthening disease surveillance systems and boosting local health systems," as per NPR.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq