The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is awaiting the diagnosis of a mysterious disease, which has claimed the lives of at least 79 people in the Panzi district of Kwango Province. The disease, referred to as “Disease X,” has triggered alarm across the region, with health officials still uncertain about its exact nature.
Director-general of health in the DRC, Dr. Dieudonné Mwamba shared the update during a bi-weekly media briefing hosted by the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Friday. He explained that the term “Disease X” was coined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to describe a hypothetical, unknown pathogen that could cause a future epidemic or pandemic. The term highlights the need for preparedness in the face of emerging diseases, as unexpected outbreaks have repeatedly demonstrated the vulnerability of global health systems. Diseases like SARS, Ebola and COVID-19 have underscored the necessity of being ready for unknown threats.
Mwamba explained that ‘Disease X’ presents with symptoms such as fever, headaches, cough, and sometimes difficulty breathing. So far, 376 people have been infected and the disease appears to be airborne. “Females are slightly more affected than males, and the majority of cases (52 per cent) are under the age of five. The second largest group of patients is people aged over 25 (almost 30 per cent),” he noted. While health authorities have yet to identify whether the disease is viral or bacterial, Mwamba expressed optimism that laboratory results within 48 hours would provide a clearer picture.
The Panzi district, already struggling with poverty and malnutrition rates close to 40%, has limited healthcare infrastructure. The region has also been grappling with a recent outbreak of typhoid fever and a seasonal influenza surge. Due to the lack of facilities to test the disease in Panzi, samples have been sent to a laboratory in Kikwit, located about 500 kilometres away, for analysis.
Director-general of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya added more details, saying that the first case of the unknown illness was detected on October 24 in the rural southeastern province bordering Angola. However, authorities were only notified of the possible outbreak on December 1, creating a significant delay in response. Kaseya emphasised that a delay of five to six weeks in reporting such an outbreak could have far-reaching consequences. “We want to reinforce the surveillance. We have a delay of almost five to six weeks, and in that time, so many things can happen. This is why we are supporting the country to build strong capacity for surveillance,” Kaseya stated.
To assist the DRC authorities in managing the outbreak, an Africa CDC team, including an epidemiologist, laboratory experts, and infection prevention and control (IPC) specialists, was sent to Panzi on Friday. This team aims to support local health officials and help manage the situation more effectively.
Meanwhile, Mpox, which continues to spread in Central Africa, has become a major concern. Over the past week, 2,700 new cases have been reported, up from 2,618 the previous week. The outbreak has now affected 20 countries across Africa. Dr. Kaseya reported that Zambia and Zimbabwe have confirmed their outbreaks as Clade 1b. The total number of Mpox cases in Africa has now reached 62,171, with 1,200 deaths recorded since January 2024. In the past week alone, 36 people died, all of whom were from the DRC.
Despite these alarming figures, laboratory testing remains a challenge in many affected areas. Only 13,579 cases have been clinically confirmed through laboratory testing, highlighting the difficulties in accurately tracking and managing the outbreak. The DRC remains the hardest-hit country, with both ‘Clade 1a’ and ‘1b’ variants of Mpox circulating. Most of the new cases and deaths in the past week were reported in the DRC, where testing remains limited, and only 20 per cent of the cases have been confirmed through laboratory testing.
Kaseya also pointed out the troubling links between Mpox and measles cases in the DRC. Although a causal relationship between the two diseases has not been established, the high burden of Mpox cases and measles outbreaks in the country is concerning. These two diseases could potentially complicate the overall public health response in the region.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same family as the smallpox virus. Mpox symptoms include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes, with some cases presenting severe complications. The disease can spread from animals to humans, particularly through direct contact with infected animals or their body fluids. Additionally, it can spread between humans via respiratory droplets, direct contact with infected skin lesions, and contaminated objects.
In 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other health bodies decided to rename monkeypox to “Mpox” to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with the original name. Despite this effort, the outbreak of Mpox continues to raise significant public health concerns across Africa.
As the situation with ‘Disease X’ in the DRC remains unresolved, authorities and the global health community are closely monitoring developments. The rapid spread of Mpox, along with the emergence of the unknown disease, underscores the urgent need for robust surveillance systems, rapid response capabilities and international cooperation to mitigate the impact of these health threats.
