Has Disease X Launched in Africa?

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that it is deploying experts to support health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in carrying out further investigations to determine the cause of an undiagnosed disease that has been reported in Panzi, a locality in Kwango province.

So far, the disease has been reported in seven of the 30 health zones in Kwango province.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, 394 cases and 30 deaths have been reported so far in the Panzi health zone. Symptoms of the illness include headache, cough, fever, breathing difficulties, and anemia. Until laboratory test results are received, the cause is unclear.

As of December 6, 2024, laboratory tests are being conducted to determine the cause of this respiratory pathogen. Diseases such as Influenza, COVID-19, malaria, measles and others. Some officials have called this unknown outbreak a Disease X situation.

Disease X was included for the first time in February 2018 by the WHO Blueprint for Epidemics, representing the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease. 

"Our priority is to support the affected families and communities effectively. All efforts are underway to identify the cause of the illness, understand its modes of transmission, and ensure appropriate response as swiftly as possible," said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, in a media release.

Panzi is a rural community over 700 km from the DRC's Kinshasa. With over 17 million residents, it is an international gateway to numerous destinations.

As of today, the WHO has not called for travel restrictions.