Mystery Flu-Like ‘Disease X’ Investigated After Killing 79 in Congo

Health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo expect to know within days the cause of an infectious disease outbreak termed ‘Disease X’ that’s sickened hundreds of people and killed at least 79, since late October.

Almost 200 of the 376 afflicted with a flu-like illness are younger than five years, said Jean Kaseya, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases of fever, headache, cough, difficulty breathing, and anemia were first reported on Oct. 24 in the Panzi health zone in the southwestern province of Kwango, with national authorities alerted Dec. 1.