143 deaths from "Disease X" - Now the mystery is finally solved!

Kwango (Congo) - Since the outbreak in November, more than 400 people have fallen ill, 143 of whom have died from "Disease X". Now researchers are sure what they are dealing with!

Healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are helping to prevent the disease from spreading further.
Healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are helping to prevent the disease from spreading further.  © Moses Sawasawa/AP/dpa

According to a report by Deutschlandfunk radio, the Congolese Ministry of Health gave the all-clear today, Tuesday: "The mystery has finally been solved."

The mysterious "disease X" is a severe form of malaria that mainly affects the respiratory tract. Children under the age of five are particularly susceptible to this type of pathogen.

Other symptoms include fever, headaches, breathing problems and anemia, also known as anemia.

The disease was given the name "Disease X" by the Institute of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nevertheless, it is proving very difficult to completely eradicate the disease, as the province of Kwango is very remote and the infrastructure in the country is poorly developed.