Mysterious disease in DRC is severe malaria, health authorities say
Al Jazeera4 days
Mystery Disease in Congo Identified as Severe Malaria
story
Above: A doctor treats malaria patients in a hospital in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on April 22, 2022. Image copyright: Zanem Nety Zaidi/Contributor/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images
The Facts
A disease previously called "Disease X," which killed 143 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC's) Kwango province in November, has been confirmed as a severe form of malaria by the country's health ministry.
The outbreak has affected 592 people since October, with a fatality rate of 6.2% and deaths primarily impacting children under 14 years old in the remote Panzi health zone. Over 50% of cases are affecting children under five.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Identifying this disease is a great step toward targeted interventions, but further testing is needed to rule out other diseases with overlapping symptoms. The region's low vaccination rates and malnutrition also worsen outcomes, necessitating international aid. This further proves the importance of pandemic preparedness models such as "Disease X," which helps global institutions remain vigilant in their fight against current and future outbreaks.
Establishment-critical narrative
The WHO's use of "Disease X" has been a fear-mongering tactic for over a year, even before the DRC's mystery illness emerged, often linked to promoting global control via health treaties. The term, not found in pathology textbooks, has been used by the WEF and WHO to suggest a pathogen 20 times deadlier than COVID, fueling panic without evidence. We now know that the DRC disease is malaria, but the WHO's narrative has already been set.
