Mysterious ‘Disease X’ Claims Dozens of Lives in Congo

Since October 24, at least 376 cases have been reported of patients suffering from fevers, headaches, runny noses, breathing difficulties, and anemia, according to Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Health officials have dubbed the illness “Disease X.”

The Africa CDC has confirmed 79 deaths from the disease, although local officials told Reuters and the Associated Press that the death toll has risen to 143.

“The Congolese government is on general alert regarding this disease,” said Roger Kamba, the country’s health minister.

Kaseya reported that the disease originated in the Panzi health zone, a remote area of Kwango province near the border with Angola. Women and children are among the most affected, with more than half of the cases occurring in children under the age of five.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced plans to deploy medical professionals and supplies to aid in treatment efforts and assist in identifying the disease. WHO officials, however, cautioned against calling the illness “unidentified,” urging instead that it be referred to as “undiagnosed.” The remoteness of the region and its lack of laboratory facilities could mean the illness stems from a known disease rather than a new one.

“The health system is quite weak in our rural areas, but for certain types of care, the ministry has all the provisions, and we are waiting for the first results of the sample analysis to properly calibrate things,” Kaseya explained.

Medical teams arriving in Congo will test for flu, as it is peak flu season in the region, as well as for COVID-19, malaria, and measles to determine whether the illness might involve multiple known diseases affecting the population.