Health experts: No need to panic over ‘Disease X’

PETALING JAYA: There is no need to panic following the outbreak of a mysterious illness dubbed “Disease X” in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), say health experts.

However, they say those who will be travelling to the region should be aware of the risk and take preventive measures.

Public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said Malaysia does not have to worry as the country, through the Health Ministry, has extensive and frequent updates from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other global health surveillance systems.

“We also have our own effective and efficient disease surveillance system.

“For now, it is best to wait for official statements from the WHO and our Health Ministry,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Zainal Ariffin also noted that Congolese officials and the international team from Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), as well as the WHO, have begun to investigate the cases.

“They have yet to come out with an advisory statement. It is not yet a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC),” he added.

A PHEIC is a formal designation, giving a special status for an emergency caused by an infectious disease outbreak from the WHO.

Public health medicine expert Prof Dr Malina Osman said the DRC in general has inadequate facilities to support infectious diseases diagnosis, and control and prevention.

Citing an example, she said the DRC was previously hit by mpox cases.

The country recorded more than 47,000 suspected cases and over 1,000 suspected deaths from the disease in the Central African country, according to the WHO.

“I believe the condition (Disease X) is now closely being monitored globally, including by our Health Ministry.

“We are still not sure whether the situation is related to mpox or it may be a newly-emerged infectious disease that may be precipitated by poor nutritional status.

“Those who will be travelling to the region should be aware of the risk and take preventive measures,” she said.

Since late October, hundreds of people have fallen ill and at least 79 died from the outbreak, termed “Disease X”.

Almost 200 of the 376 afflicted had flu-like symptoms and were younger than five years old, said Jean Kaseya, the director of the Africa CDC.

Cases of fever, headache, cough, difficulty breathing and anaemia were first reported on Oct 24 in the Panzi health zone in the southwestern province of Kwango, with national authorities alerted on Dec 1.

The outbreak has renewed concerns of the emergence of a new pathogen with potential to spread across the world just a few years after Covid-19 forced countries to shut down borders and brought economic and social activities to a standstill.

Health authorities in Hong Kong said on Dec 5 that they will tighten screenings at the airport for visitors arriving from Johannesburg and Addis Ababa, the two African transit hubs that could ferry travellers from the DRC.

In Japan, its foreign ministry has advised people against unnecessary travel to the region affected by the outbreak.