By Esther Nakkazi
At a press briefing today, Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya advised against using the term “Disease X” to describe an unexplained illness in Panzi, a remote area, located 700 km southeast of Kinshasa of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He stressed that the term should be reserved for confirmed novel pathogens to maintain its significance and avoid public confusion.
“We should refer to the situation as a febrile illness of unknown aetiology,” Dr. Kaseya said. “It may turn out to be a disease of known origin, and using ‘Disease X’ prematurely could mislead and undermine the term’s importance.”
However, some science communicators highlighted challenges in communicating this technical terminology to the public. Angelo Katumba, Senior Program Manager at AVAC, questioned whether the term “aetiology” might be too technical, suggesting “origin” as a simpler alternative.
Similarly, Ida Jooste, a journalist and Global Health Advisor at Internews, recommended “illness of unknown origin” as a more reader-friendly term, cautioning against the inclusion of “febrile illness,” which might confuse average readers.
“I wish there was a simpler way to say ‘fever illness’ or ‘fever-based illness,’” Jooste added. “Sometimes it works best in a sentence with more context, and then you can weave in that there is fever.”
Dr. Kaseya noted several hurdles in investigating the illness, which has primarily affected malnourished children under five. Samples sent to the national laboratory in Kinshasa were in poor condition, hampering diagnostic efforts. He called for stronger laboratory systems to ensure timely and accurate testing.
Furthermore, with the cause and mode of transmission still unknown, neighboring countries cannot yet be advised on preventive measures. “Without understanding how the disease spreads or what causes it, we cannot provide meaningful guidance,” he explained.
The illness, which emerged in late October and was reported to authorities in early December, presents with fever, headache, and a high mortality rate. Africa CDC is collaborating with the DRC Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB), and other partners to enhance surveillance and genomic analysis capabilities.
The organization has deployed a multidisciplinary team to the affected region and supplied advanced tools, including molecular diagnostic equipment, reagents, and bioinformatics servers, to bolster local response efforts.
The outbreak in Panzi, located 700 km southeast of Kinshasa, highlights the need for decentralized laboratory infrastructure and improved public health systems. Dr. Kaseya emphasized that these measures are critical for addressing future outbreaks.
“Disease X represents the unknowns in global health,” he concluded. “Early detection and a coordinated response are essential for safeguarding public health.”