A mysterious illness, dubbed ‘Disease X’, has already claimed the lives of at least 100 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The outbreak, which has severely affected the southwestern region of the country, is causing alarm as hundreds of people, especially children under five, have been infected. Health authorities are racing against time to determine the cause and control the situation.
Since the first cases were reported in late October, at least 376 individuals have been affected by the disease, with nearly 200 cases involving young children. The illness has symptoms resembling the flu, including fever, headache, cough, difficulty breathing, and anemia. It was first detected in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province, and national authorities were informed of the outbreak on December 1, after a delay of several weeks.
Jean Kaseya, the director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), highlighted the significant delay in identifying the disease, which could complicate containment efforts. “We have a delay of almost five to six weeks, and in five to six weeks so many things can happen,” Kaseya noted in a press call.
Experts suspect that the disease could be airborne, though investigations into the exact cause are still ongoing. Samples are currently being analyzed at the national laboratory in Kinshasa, located about 500 kilometers from the outbreak area, with results expected within 48 hours. The outbreak has raised concerns globally, with fears that this new pathogen could pose a threat similar to the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to widespread shutdowns across the world just a few years ago.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has deployed experts, essential medicines, and diagnostic kits to the affected area to help local authorities assess the situation and understand the transmission patterns. The outbreak has already spread to seven of the 30 health zones in Kwango province, prompting the WHO to work closely with the Africa CDC to enhance disease surveillance capabilities in the region.
In addition to respiratory pathogens, health officials are also investigating other potential causes of the disease, including malaria and measles. As the outbreak continues to unfold, neighboring countries, including Hong Kong and Japan, have begun taking precautions. Hong Kong authorities announced that they would increase airport screenings for travelers arriving from Johannesburg and Addis Ababa, key hubs that might connect travelers from the DRC. Japan’s foreign ministry has also advised against non-essential travel to the affected region.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Epidemiology Unit is closely monitoring the situation. The Ministry of Health has reported that the country is on alert, and a meeting with the Chief Epidemiologist and other medical professionals is being arranged to assess the risks and determine appropriate preventive measures. Sri Lankan authorities are awaiting further guidance from the WHO on how to manage the potential threat, although it is considered too early to implement specific precautions at this stage.
As authorities worldwide scramble to understand and contain ‘Disease X’, global health officials remain cautious, with the hope that this outbreak does not escalate into a global health emergency.
