Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are racing to identify a deadly illness that is affecting malnourished children

Disease X emerged at a time of increased influenza circulation, and is likely to be linked to airborne diseases, according to Congo’s National Public Health Institute. The illness may not manifest in the same way in other places with different pre-existing health.

On Tuesday, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, also said most of the samples tested positive for malaria, but noted it is possible that more than one disease was involved. He said further samples will be collected and tested.

Scores of people have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Researchers from the WHO are investigating the cause of this mysterious Disease X.

The disease emerged in the Panzi health zone, which is a remote part of Kwango province along the Congolese border with Angola.

Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician at Stanford Medicine, told NBC News that the Congo outbreak “does raise alarm bells” because of its location. Humans and wild

Health officials revealed Congo's mysterious illness causing flu-like symptoms and dozens of deaths could be malaria.