A mysterious disease has been detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo with representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) saying it has infected more than 406 individuals and caused 31 deaths so far. Patients are showing flu-like symptoms. The first case was detected on October 21 in the Kwango district.
It is believed that there are many more patients but they are being treated at home. At the same time, the death toll is also feared to be higher because only deaths in hospitals have been recorded. The majority of those who died were children. The reason for the still mysterious deaths is that the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has labeled it Disease X at this time. It could be pneumonia, flu, Covid, tick fever, malaria, and E. coli infection.
WHO said the risk of Disease X to people in local areas is high and the risk in the whole of Congo is moderate. Internationally, the risk of Disease X is still categorized as low.