The Mysterious New "Disease X" Is Here. Could It Hit Arizona?

I have some bad news. You might want to dig out those unused COVID masks; the World Health Organization (WHO) is tracking a mysterious new illness that could be headed to Arizona.

Dubbed Disease X, the illness has caught the attention of health officials worldwide. The WHO uses the term 'Disease X' as a placeholder to describe a hypothetical, unknown pathogen that could cause a future epidemic or pandemic.

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COVID-19 was originally dubbed Disease X when it was first identified, and until more was known about the cause and trajectory of the virus.

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Disease X: No Longer a "Hypothetical Disease"

The "Disease X" we're talking about now was considered hypothetical, but that recently changed.

The term is currently being used to refer to a mysterious illness that recently emerged in the Central African Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). And the sickness is making global health officials extremely nervous.

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READ: CDC Warns AZ Residents of Highly Infectious Disease Outbreak

According to WIO News, experts worry that "disease X could prove to be 20 times deadlier than COVID-19." The World Economic Forum recently gathered to discuss the threat to public health.

Experts don't currently know the cause of the illness, but say symptoms are similar to a typical respiratory infection and can include fever, headaches, coughing, and body aches.

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The current outbreak of Disease X in the DRC has resulted in over 400 reported cases. Numerous deaths have occurred, and it has primarily affected children under the age of five.

Disease X: Unknown Cause

Much like in the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, the exact cause and transmission of this new illness are unknown. Health experts suspect the culprit is a viral infection, and the cases in Africa have likely been made worse by underlying health conditions and malnutrition.

READ: The "New Fauci Virus" is Spreading Across Arizona

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The disease is spreading rapidly within communities. While health officials don't yet know the exact mode, they believe it may be airborne, which raises concerns that the outbreak could quickly spread beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Disease X currently spreads rapidly within communities, and they're not sure how it spreads. Like COVID, health officials believe it could have airborne transmission, raising concerns that it could quickly spread beyond the region.

World Health Organization Responds to Disease X

The WHO is responding. They've dispatched teams to collect samples, conduct laboratory tests, and implement control measures to identify the pathogen and understand how it's being spread.

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In a world that's still weary from the COVID-19 global pandemic, we appreciate the efforts of the World Health Organization to contain this threat to keep this potentially virulent illness from our shores and out of Arizona.

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Gallery Credit: Stephanie Parker