Disease x or acute febrile syndrome appeared exclusively in an isolated region of the Democratic Republic of Congo and does not in any way present the characteristics of a disease that would cause problems at the global level, claims the Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafilă.
Alexandru Rafila claims that it is not a global health alert PHOTO Archive
The Minister of Health stated that the cause of this disease is still unknown and that a WHO team checked in the affected areas how the disease manifests itself and what needs to be done so that patients can receive medical care, as these are very hard-to-reach areas. Alexandru Rafila also says that it is not possible to discuss a health alert that would worry the authorities of other countries, according to News.ro.
“This condition, which appears to be a respiratory-borne disease, has occurred exclusively in an isolated region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and does not in any way show the characteristics of a disease of global concern. The public health alert is strictly for the region where these cases were registered, and for the entire country, for the Democratic Republic of Congo it is a moderate level warning.
The cause of this disease is not known, it is assumed to be a viral infection, a bacterial infection or even a parasitic infection. And malaria is specified as one of the possible causes by the World Health Organization.
The first notification was made on November 29 by the health authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, meanwhile a team from the World Health Organization went to the spot, and the first conclusions that this team drew were that it is a a condition characterized by fever in over 90% of affected people, a respiratory syndrome with coughing and sneezing”explained Dr. Rafila.
Severe cases in malnourished people
The serious cases, registered in the case of malnourished people, says the Minister of Health. Apart from the still unknown etiology of the disease, there are great challenges related to the access of specialists to the affected areas. However, international organizations are making efforts to provide those in pain with the treatments they need.
“What we have to understand is that those serious, fatal cases were registered entirely in malnourished people. It is clear that we are talking about a disease that affects an isolated region of the Republic of Congo where there are no diagnosis possibilities and no treatment possibilities for patients, and the efforts that international organizations led by the WHO are making at the moment refer to exactly these two elements that would give the people of that region the ability or possibility to be diagnosed including from the point of view of the pathological agent and to be treated, initially with symptoms and if it proves to be a microorganism that responds to a specific medication then it can be administered.
We cannot in any way discuss a health alert that would set the authorities in other countries on fire because this alert refers strictly to the Congo, and the information you can find on the website of the National Institute of Public Health, which comes from at the World Health Organization are clarifying in this regard“the minister also said.
“Romania monitors respiratory infections”
“I believe that there is no reason to scare the population of Romania, especially in a period, if you will, very agitated, from a social point of view, from a political point of view. On the other hand, we are approaching the holidays and the induction of panic in the population is not justified either by data from international organizations or by medical considerations that would generate panic in the population. As every year, Romania, as you know, monitors respiratory infections this season, including influenza, which is the main pathology that is responsible for a possible epidemic in this period, this is not the case at the moment, the National Institute of Health The public monitors the situation and obviously, as we do every year together with local public health authorities and specialized hospitals, we take the necessary measures to ensure medical assistance, including specific antiviral medication for patients who could have the flu or an infection with the new coronavirus.
I would like to tell you that among the viral etiological agents involved, including the measles virus or the new coronavirus are being considered by those from the World Health Organization”explained the Minister of Health
