The Department of Health (DOH) assured the public that it is closely monitoring a mysterious virus dubbed "Disease X."

Since late October, around 400 cases of "Disease X" have been logged, primarily affecting children under five years old in Panzi, Kwango Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, headache, and body aches.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has registered 71 deaths so far.

While no case of "Disease X" has been detected in the Philippines, the DOH said it is prepared for the still-emerging pathogen.

"We are monitoring this as part of our [international health regulations] responsibilities, although the number of deaths has already decreased, I'm awaiting the official results from the WHO teams in the area to tell us what disease it is," DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa said during a year-end media conference on Tuesday.

Herbosa noted that "Disease X" could be an emerging or re-emerging disease already classified by the WHO.

"Should I be afraid? No... I think the word is not to be scared. We should be alert. That's the word. Any 'Disease X' can come out. You need to be prepared," he added.

The Health chief said he is confident the country will be able to handle the unknown virus if it comes to the Philippines, citing how the country survived the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Don't be worried about the Philippines. We had a health system that was weak... We were able to do [well] despite the minimum resources," Herbosa said.

He also noted that being in the "ring of fire," or being among those countries that have the most active volcanoes in the world, is also an advantage.

"We're used to that. Yung ating bayanihan spirit is an advantage for us. Tulong-tulong tayo."

According to the WHO, "Disease X" is a name scientists call a hypothetical disease "to prepare for the hypothetical virus or bacteria that in the future can cause large outbreaks, epidemics, or pandemics."