A mysterious illness dubbed “Disease X” has infected more than 400 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo since October, prompting the World Health Organization to deploy a rapid response team to the region.
The outbreak, centered in the Panzi health zone in southwestern Congo, has confounded health officials as they struggle to identify the cause of the flu-like illness.
The WHO confirmed in a statement on Sunday that it was actively investigating the outbreak, which has particularly affected young children.
Patients reported a range of symptoms, including fever, headache, cough, runny nose and body aches, according to the WHO.
The disease has affected 400 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo since October
STRINGER/AFP via Getty
More than half of the reported cases involve children under the age of five.
A 50-year-old man residing in Lucca, Italy, is believed to have recovered from his illness after a business trip to Congo, Italian media outlet Il Tempo reported.
All serious cases were detected in individuals suffering from severe malnutrition, complicating efforts to identify the infectious source.
The WHO reported 31 deaths linked to the outbreak, a significant revision from the 79 deaths reported last week.
The remoteness of the affected area in Kwango province complicated response efforts, with poor road conditions and heavy rains making access extremely difficult.
Health officials say it takes nearly 48 hours to reach the region from Kinshasa.
The actual death toll may be higher as many patients are believed to have died outside health facilities.
Health officials are investigating several potential causes of the outbreak, including acute pneumonia, influenza, Covid-19, measles and malaria, based on observed symptoms.
The actual death toll may be higher as many patients are believed to have died outside health facilities.
Reuters
The WHO noted that malaria, common in the region, could be causing or contributing to these cases.
“Laboratory tests are underway to determine the exact cause. At this stage, it is also possible that multiple diseases are contributing to cases and deaths,” the WHO said.
Limited diagnostic capabilities in the region have delayed identification of the underlying cause.
WHO response teams are actively working to treat patients while raising awareness of the outbreak in affected communities.
Teams collect samples for laboratory testing and perform detailed clinical examinations of detected cases.
WHO officials are also studying modes of transmission and actively searching for new cases, both in health facilities and at the community level.
At least 10 new suspected cases and one additional death were reported on December 6, bringing the total number of people affected in Panzi to 416.