PUBLIC health officials officials are on "high alert" over a mysterious illness dubbed 'Disease X' emerging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The flu-like illness has infected 394 people in recent weeks, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today, as experts race to identify its cause.
It has also killed 71, according to Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Jean Kaseya, the head of Africa's CDC, said yesterday more details about the disease should be known within the next 48 hours, AP reported.
The health watchdog appeared to label the virus 'Disease X' during an online press briefing on Thursday and on it's X account - a name used by the WHO and given to a hypothetical pathogen that has pandemic potential.
It is feared to be airborne - passed via small droplets when breathing or talking - said Dieudonne Mwamba, director general of the National Public Health Institute.
He added: "We don't know if we are dealing with a viral disease or a bacterial disease."
Reports of the mysterious illness began emerging in late October with cases so far limited to the Panzi region - 435 miles southeast of DCR's capital, Kinshasa.
Because of the lack of testing capacity, samples had to be taken to Kikwit, more than 500 km away, said Mwamba.
Mr Kaseya added: “First diagnostics are leading us to think it is a respiratory disease.
"But we need to wait for the laboratory results.”
He added that there are many things that are still unknown about the disease, including whether it's infectious and how it is transmitted.
Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba told reporters in Kinshasa: "We are on maximum alert, we consider this to be a level of epidemic that we need to monitor."
Residents infected with the mysterious illness began developing flu-like symptoms, such as headaches, coughs and fever.
Some also suffered from breathing difficulties and anaemia.
Kamba said: "In the health centres, we have counted 27 dead."
He added that another 44 deaths had been reported in the community but "other possible causes" could be involved in these.
'High fever, vomiting... and then death'
A Panzi resident, Claude Niongo, said his wife and seven-year-old daughter died from the disease.
“We do not know the cause but I only noticed high fevers, vomiting...and then death,” Niongo told The Associated Press
According to initial data, the unidentified disease particularly affects younger people and children, with 40 percent of cases among under fives.
The WHO said today that it was deploying experts to support health authorities, deliver medicines, diagnostic and sample collection kits.
The team will work with community leaders in disease surveillance and preventing further infections, WHO added in its announcement today.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said: “Our priority is to provide effective support to the affected families and communities.
"All efforts are underway to identify the cause of the illness, understand its modes of transmission and ensure appropriate response as swiftly as possible."
Access to the region is difficult by road and health infrastructure is lacking.
Among the 27 deaths in health centres, 17 people died after suffering respiratory distress, the minister said.
Ten died from a lack of transfusion due to a state of severe anaemia.
The DRC has in recent months been also at the epicentre of an outbreak of mpox, with more than 1,000 deaths.
1 comment:
IMO, Find cure, and don't allow or bring it here!!
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