Bigdog
Harris - make America a 3rd world shithole
"It is almost impossible to treat an illness like the Disease X that's spreading in DR Congo — medics don't even know whether it is a viral or bacterial infection.
So far, the DRC has recorded 406 cases of the undiagnosed disease. Severe cases have been reported among severely malnourished people, including 31 deaths, mostly children.
The spread of the disease is currently concentrated in the Panzi district in Kwango province, located about 700 kilometers (435 miles) from the capital, Kinshasa. Panzi district is remote, with difficult-to-access roads and nearly non-existent health infrastructure.
Health officials say the disease is most likely to be an already-known illness rather than a brand new one. But they still don't know which one.
"Reports of outbreaks with fatalities crop up somewhere in the world several times a year. Almost all turn out to be an already well-known infection with limited global consequences," said Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at University of East Anglia, UK, in a press statement.
"Disease X should only really be used when there is an infectious disease with epidemic or pandemic potential and a novel pathogen has been identified or is strongly suspected. It would be more appropriate to say that, currently, this is an undiagnosed morbidity and mortality event," Dunning told DW via email.
The undiagnosed disease causes flu-like symptoms of fever, headache, cough and anemia.
That's why the World Health Organization (WHO) also believes the unidentified disease will most likely be traced back to already known causes.
Based on the symptoms, acute pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, measles and malaria are being considered as possible causes."
www.dw.com
So far, the DRC has recorded 406 cases of the undiagnosed disease. Severe cases have been reported among severely malnourished people, including 31 deaths, mostly children.
The spread of the disease is currently concentrated in the Panzi district in Kwango province, located about 700 kilometers (435 miles) from the capital, Kinshasa. Panzi district is remote, with difficult-to-access roads and nearly non-existent health infrastructure.
Health officials say the disease is most likely to be an already-known illness rather than a brand new one. But they still don't know which one.
"Reports of outbreaks with fatalities crop up somewhere in the world several times a year. Almost all turn out to be an already well-known infection with limited global consequences," said Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at University of East Anglia, UK, in a press statement.
What is the likeliest cause of the disease outbreak?
Jake Dunning, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Oxford, UK, said calling the incident a Disease X outbreak could be misleading and counterproductive"Disease X should only really be used when there is an infectious disease with epidemic or pandemic potential and a novel pathogen has been identified or is strongly suspected. It would be more appropriate to say that, currently, this is an undiagnosed morbidity and mortality event," Dunning told DW via email.
The undiagnosed disease causes flu-like symptoms of fever, headache, cough and anemia.
That's why the World Health Organization (WHO) also believes the unidentified disease will most likely be traced back to already known causes.
Based on the symptoms, acute pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, measles and malaria are being considered as possible causes."
Disease X: What is the illness spreading in Congo? – DW – 12/09/2024
A mysterious 'Disease X' is spreading in a remote region of Congo. Experts say it's probably a known illness — but which one? And can it be treated?
www.dw.com
