WHO Identifies Malaria in Congo's 'Disease X', Investigates Italy Cases

Dec 11, 2024, 12:37 PM

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that a significant number of individuals tested for a mysterious illness in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), initially referred to as 'Disease X', have been diagnosed with malaria. This revelation comes after the outbreak led to the deaths of 30 people over a couple of months. The WHO's investigation has found that 10 out of 12 samples tested positive for malaria, though the organization acknowledges the possibility of multiple causes contributing to the outbreak. This finding has somewhat alleviated concerns about the spread of an unknown disease, but experts remain worried about the high child mortality rate associated with the outbreak. Additionally, there have been reports of similar symptoms in Italy, with cases in Tuscany and Calabria being investigated, with samples sent to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità for further analysis.