‘Disease X’ has killed dozens in the Congo — here’s what to know about the mystery illness

Date:

Share post:


An outbreak of a mystery illness dubbed “Disease X” has killed dozens in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), health officials say.

Up to 143 people have died from the infectious disease, the country’s deputy provincial governor, Rémy Saki, told the Associated Press on Tuesday.

The deaths occurred in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province between Nov. 10 and Nov. 25, AP reported this week.

DEADLY OUTBREAK OF MARBURG, OR ‘BLEEDING EYE VIRUS,’ LEADS TO TRAVEL ADVISORY

Primary symptoms include fever, headache, cough and difficulty breathing.

Most of those affected are children younger than 5 years old.

An outbreak of a mysterious illness dubbed “Disease X” has killed dozens in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), health officials say. (iStock)

“At the Emergency Operation Center for Public Health and at the INSP [National Institute of Public Health] — which is in maximum alert mode — we’ve already positioned central-level teams who will leave within 24 hours to join the [local] health zone,” said Dr. Dieudonné Mwamba, the director general of INSP, speaking in French at a press briefing on Thursday.

BIRD FLU SURGES IN SEVERAL US STATES WITH REPORTS OF NEW OUTBREAKS: ‘GETTING WORSE’

The DRC’s provincial health minister, Apollinaire Yumba, urged residents to be cautious and to avoid contact with dead bodies to prevent infection, AP reported. 

The country is also requesting medical supplies.

“There is a lack of medicines and medical supplies, since the disease is not yet known.”

The first cases of Disease X were reported on Oct. 24, but health authorities were not notified until Dec. 1, according to reports.

Jean Kaseya, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, spoke at a press conference on Thursday.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP     

“We have a delay of almost five to six weeks, and in five to six weeks, so many things can happen,” Kaseya said. 

“Ongoing testing will help us to understand what is the issue.”

congo

Up to 143 people have died from the infectious disease, the country’s deputy provincial governor, Rémy Saki, told the Associated Press on Tuesday. (iStock)

Lucien Lufutu, president of the civil society consultation framework of Kwango province, who is in Panzi, told the AP that the local hospital is not equipped to treat the influx of ill patients.

“There is a lack of medicines and medical supplies, since the disease is not yet known, most of the population is treated by traditional practitioners,” he said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

When contacted by Fox News Digital, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it is aware of reports of an illness in southwest DRC.  

“U.S. government staff, including those from U.S. CDC’s country office in Kinshasa, are in contact with DRC’s Ministry of Health and stand ready to provide additional support if needed,” a spokesperson said.

disease x test

The first cases of Disease X were reported on Oct. 24, but health authorities were not notified until Dec. 1, according to reports. (iStock)

The Congo is already grappling with an ongoing outbreak of mpox, a viral disease caused by an orthopoxvirus. A global emergency was declared in August.

In recent weeks, health officials have reported between 200 and 300 confirmed mpox cases weekly, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

Fox News Digital also reached out to the Africa CDC and WHO requesting additional comment.



Source link

Alexandra Williams
Alexandra Williams
Alexandra Williams is a writer and editor. Angeles. She writes about politics, art, and culture for LinkDaddy News.

Recent posts

Related articles

Several kinds of acne products recalled over cancer risk, FDA says

Mid-flight skincare routines go viral on social media Beauty content creator Sarah Palmyra from...

Fly safely amid measles outbreak with these important travel tips

Measles has been spreading across America, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported...

Popular frozen drink linked to children’s illness, study finds

Lara Trump on setting a healthy example for her children Amid the widespread support...

Higher dementia risk seen in women with common health issue

An estimated 80% of women have some type of menopause symptoms — and the more symptoms...

Stay fit in your 40s and beyond with these smart workout tips

Exercise is essential for overall health — but as we age, our usual fitness routine might...

Five years since initial response to coronavirus spread in the United States

February 2020By the time the coronavirus had begun to spread throughout the United States, officials were...

Measles updates, plus medication that could reduce cancer spread

Fox News' Health newsletter brings you stories on the latest developments in health care, wellness, diseases,...

US measles outbreak: See the states where cases have been reported

The measles outbreak continues to spread throughout the U.S., sparking discussions about how best to protect...