Italy heightens airport health checks for passengers amid 'Disease X' outbreak

Italy heightened its health alert due to a mysterious illness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that has led to numerous deaths. The illness was dubbed ‘Disease X’ in early media reports. Italian health authorities have decided to increase checks at the country's airports for passengers coming from the DRC, as reported by Zougla. The Italian Ministry of Health communicated that there is "no reason for alarm" regarding the unknown disease, emphasizing "active surveillance and constant monitoring underway" with "due attention" but "without alarmism," according to El Cronista.

The disease, which caused at least 80 deaths within a month, is circulating in a remote area of the DRC. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported nearly 400 cases and 30 deaths in the affected area of Pangi, as noted by Il Tempo. The symptoms of the undiagnosed disease include severe shortness of breath, fever, headache, cough, sore throat, muscle pain, and fatigue. These symptoms resemble those of hemorrhagic fever but also are typical of influenza and parainfluenza syndromes, according to Il Giornale.

Most patients who died from this disease are aged up to 18 years, with approximately 70 victims, predominantly children under five years old, as reported by Il Foglio. The epidemic has an estimated mortality rate of 8%, according to Avvenire. The area affected is among the poorest in the DRC, with about 40% malnutrition, which may make people particularly vulnerable to diseases, as noted by Avvenire.

"We have immediately activated procedures to raise our attention at ports and airports," said Francesco Vaia, Director General of Prevention at the Italian Ministry of Health. "Never underestimate, but never panic," he added, as reported by Il Tempo.

Laboratory tests are underway to determine the cause of the undiagnosed disease. The WHO is considering a respiratory pathogen similar to influenza or COVID-19 as a possible origin, as reported by Il Tempo. The organization does not exclude that the unidentified disease could be caused by a meningococcal bacterium or hemorrhagic fever, according to Adnkronos. Decisive results are awaited from microbiological tests being conducted in a laboratory in Kinshasa to determine whether it is a meningococcal bacterium, hemorrhagic fever, some form of influenza, or a new disease, with results expected in 24 to 48 hours, according to Il Tempo.

Congolese Health Minister Roger Kamba stated that the disease is "a syndrome probably influenza-like" that is causing victims, especially among the youngest, as reported by Il Tempo. Local authorities in the DRC are advising the population to wash their hands with soap, avoid gatherings, and not touch the bodies of the deceased without qualified healthcare personnel to prevent possible contagion, as noted by Il Tempo.

Italian epidemiologist Roberto Burioni expressed concern on Facebook, writing, "Strange clinical picture (anemia!), I don't like it. For heaven's sake, no panic, but attention. In the modern world, viruses—as we have seen—move very quickly," as reported by Il Giornale. Similarly, Matteo Bassetti, an infectious disease specialist, commented, "Among the hypotheses on this mysterious disease, which has symptoms of fever, sore throat, cough, and anemia, there could be a viral hemorrhagic fever like Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever or Ebola. Already known, but perhaps sustained by a new virus that we hope will be identified soon," according to Il Tempo.

Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, is monitoring the outbreak in the DRC. He stated, "Cases like this happen probably many times a year around the world," according to Zougla. Osterholm noted that while the mortality rate is impressive, "it does not seem to be increasing exponentially," as reported by Zougla.

The WHO is collaborating with the Ministry of Public Health of the DRC to investigate the situation and has sent a team to collect samples for laboratory investigations, implementing first response measures such as epidemiological investigation activities and sample collection for tests, as noted by Il Giornale. The organization assures, "The WHO will share further information on the ongoing work to identify the disease as soon as available," as stated by Adnkronos.

Hong Kong authorities have also reinforced health control measures for all flights coming from African transit hubs in response to the outbreak, as reported by RPP Noticias. Passengers arriving in Hong Kong from these locations are being subjected to rigorous health evaluations to prevent the spread of the unidentified disease, according to RPP Noticias.

Italian health officials emphasize that there is no cause for alarm. The Italian Ministry of Health stated, "This decision must neither frighten nor make one fear the worst; it is only a precaution to try to avoid bringing the virus to our country," according to Il Giornale. Giovanni Rezza, professor of Hygiene and Public Health at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan, stated: "If it were clear that the entire population is susceptible and the mode of transmission were known, then that would constitute an alarm," as reported by Il Giornale. He highlighted, "Until then, making hypotheses is easy, but at the moment many things are not known," according to Il Giornale.

Matteo Bassetti added, "The risk for the rest of the world is very low; the connections between Congo and other countries are certainly not at the level of those with China," as reported by Il Tempo. He also mentioned that a WHO sanitary cordon is being established in the affected area to prevent the spread of the contagion, as noted by Avvenire.

Local authorities in the DRC are advising people to wash their hands with soap, avoid gatherings, and not touch the bodies of the deceased without qualified health personnel, as reported by Il Tempo. Congolese authorities have invited the population to remain calm and vigilant, according to Il Tempo.

In the face of this situation, Italy continues to monitor developments closely. Francesco Vaia emphasized the importance of vigilance without causing panic, stating: "Never underestimate, but never panic," as reported by Il Tempo. The Italian Ministry of Health added, "Local authorities are in close collaboration with international ones," according to Il Giornale.

The outbreak remains confined to a remote area located over 700 kilometers southeast of Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, with access complicated, especially during the rainy season, as noted by Avvenire. The WHO is working with local Ministry of Health officials to reach the most affected areas, conducting active case finding, treatment, and awareness activities for prevention and to identify and report further cases, according to Avvenire.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq