Mysterious disease kills 79 Congolese; Japan, Hong Kong increase vigilance
What's the story
A mysterious illness, now dubbed "Disease X," has emerged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), sending alarm bells ringing among global health authorities.
The outbreak, which began in late October, has mostly affected the remote Kwango Province in the country's southwest.
Between 79 and 143 people have reportedly died from this disease, with hundreds more infected.
Disease profile
Disease X symptoms and affected demographics
Disease X presents with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headaches, coughing, breathing difficulties, and anemia.
Most of the deaths have been reported among young people aged 15-18.
As a precaution, Japan and Hong Kong have increased vigilance.
Late Thursday, Hong Kong said that airport inspections for passengers traveling from Johannesburg and Addis Ababa would be increased.
Meanwhile, Japan recommended its residents avoid needless travel to the affected areas.
Official action
Health officials' response and public concerns
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention director Jean Kaseya revealed that nearly 200 of the 376 affected are under five years old.
Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba has assured that authorities are on "maximum alert" and urged citizens to practice hygiene measures such as handwashing and avoiding mass gatherings.
Meanwhile, local residents have expressed concern over inadequate healthcare resources.
Aid response
International aid and local challenges amid outbreak
The World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched a team to collect samples for lab investigations, while the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is offering technical assistance to local response teams.
To identify the sickness, local health professionals will first screen for common ailments before testing for less common pathogens, Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician at Stanford Medicine, said.
If they come back negative, investigators may genetically sequence tissue, blood, mucus, or bone marrow from affected individuals.