Mysterious deadly "disease X" has engulfed Congo (5 photos)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified more than 400 cases of a mysterious and dangerous disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo. "Disease X", whose symptoms resemble flu, was reported at the end of October. 
According to local authorities, 406 cases of infection with an unknown disease have been recorded in the DRC since October. Of these, 143 people, mostly children under 5, have died.
WHO has sent a team of experts to study the new disease. The epicenter of the outbreak is in a remote area of Kwango province. Due to poor road conditions and heavy rains, the journey there will take at least two days. 
It is also worth noting that patients with severe cases of the infection suffer from malnutrition. This makes it difficult to find the exact source of the disease.
"These problems, as well as limited diagnostic capacity in the region, make it difficult to identify the underlying cause," the WHO said. 
"Teams are collecting samples for laboratory testing, providing more detailed clinical characteristics of identified cases, studying the dynamics of the spread of the infection and actively searching for additional cases in both health facilities and in the community."
According to preliminary data, the deaths may be associated with other common diseases. These include pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, measles and malaria.
"It is possible that the deaths are caused by more than one disease," doctors say. 
All identified cases of the disease are accompanied by symptoms such as fever, headache, cough, runny nose, body aches, difficulty breathing and anemia.
The Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported the outbreak to WHO on November 29. Since then, more than 100 new cases have been identified. 
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that "Disease X" could be spread through the air. However, many questions remain about the exact nature of the disease.
