An mysterious infectious disease, referred to as “Disease X,” has led to the deaths of 79 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bloomberg reported on December 7.
Health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are working around the clock to identify the cause of the disease.
The outbreak of “Disease X” has affected hundreds of individuals and has resulted in at least 79 fatalities since the end of October.
According to Jean Kaseya, Director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the 376 reported cases, nearly 200 involve children under 5 years old.
The disease presents flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, cough, and shortness of breath…
The first infection was detected on October 24 in the Panzi health zone in Kwango Province. The national authorities were notified on December 1. “We have been delayed by nearly 5-6 weeks. A lot can happen during this time. Testing efforts will help us understand what the issue is,” Kaseya stated.
This disease has emerged during a period of rampant influenza outbreaks and experts suspect it may be transmitted through the air, according to Dieudonne Muamba, Director General of the National Institute of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Samples from patients are currently being analyzed at the national laboratory in Kinshasa, located approximately 500 km from the outbreak area.
An mysterious infectious disease, ‘Disease X,’ is raising concerns in many countries. (Photo: Bangkok Post).
Test results are expected within 48 hours, and the cause of the disease may be identified a few days later.
“Disease X” has sparked fears of the emergence of a new pathogen that could spread globally, just a few years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced countries to close their borders.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched experts, sent essential medicines, and diagnostic kits to Kwango Province to assist local authorities in understanding the transmission potential of “Disease X.”
So far, the disease has been reported in 7 out of 30 health zones in the province.
Earlier this year, a new strain of monkeypox spread worldwide, prompting the WHO to declare a public health emergency, although the extent of transmission outside Africa has been limited.
Thailand on Alert The Thai Ministry of Public Health has urged all its offices to remain vigilant regarding “Disease X,” according to the Bangkok Post on December 6. Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Public Health, Opas Kankawinpong, stated that all health agencies have been instructed to closely monitor and update information about this disease, even though Thailand is considered a low-risk country. He added that prevention efforts are focused on health checkpoints at border crossings and airports. In Hong Kong (China), Hong Kong International Airport has tightened screening measures for all flights from transit hubs in Africa since December 5. Meanwhile, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised citizens to limit travel to affected areas. |
