Is the Mystery Disease X actually Malaria? Here’s what you need to know

The deadly and mysterious disease X spreading fast in the Democratic Republic of Congo could actually be Malaria, as ten patients infected with the illness have tested positive for the vector-borne disease, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday. Malaria, an illness caused by a parasite, is spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
However, before reaching any conclusion, further testing would be needed to know for sure if it’s only Malaria or some other disease is also involved.
“Of the 12 initial samples collected, 10 tested positive for malaria, although it’s possible that more than one disease is involved. Further samples will be collected and tested to determine the exact cause or causes,” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-general of the WHO, told media persons at a press conference.
An outbreak of a mysterious illness which has sickened more than 400 people and killed 79 broke out in Panzi, the rural part of the DRC. Most cases and deaths have been found in children below 14.

Considering the region is remote and its connectivity with other parts of Congo is limited, it required some effort by health officials to get the testing done. It is to be noted that the area has high levels of malnutrition and low vaccination coverage, which could put children at risk of a range of diseases like pneumonia, measles, influenza, and others.

According to reports, rapid tests were used to detect malaria, and other samples have been transported to a more sophisticated regional laboratory in Kikwit, 300 miles away, as well as the national reference laboratory in Kinshasa, a journey of at least two days by road.

Several samples obtained by Africa’s CDC last week arrived in Kinshasa over the weekend but were “too damaged to be usable”, according to local news reports.

What is Disease X

Disease X refers to a potentially unknown pathogen capable of sparking a global epidemic or pandemic. First introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018, the term highlights the growing need to prepare for unexpected infectious threats. In recent decades, the world has encountered several

emerging viral diseases

, such as SARS-CoV-1, MERS, and Zika, with the most notable being SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic. These outbreaks emphasize the urgency of being prepared for novel pathogens, as diseases like mpox have also spread beyond their usual regions, posing significant public health challenges.

Common symptoms of Disease X

Common

symptoms of Disease X

in Congo included fever, cough, fatigue, headache, and a runny nose. The severe symptoms include difficulty in breathing, anaemia, and signs of acute malnutrition.
Based on these symptoms, acute pneumonia, influenza, Covid-19, measles and malaria are being considered as possible causes.
“Given the clinical presentation and symptoms reported, and several associated deaths, acute pneumonia, influenza, Covid-19, measles and malaria are being considered as potential causal factors with malnutrition as a contributing factor. Malaria is a common disease in this area, and it may be causing or contributing to the cases,” the WHO had said.