‘Disease X’ is ranked as a priority for awareness campaigning by the WHO alongside Covid-19, Ebola and Zika virus
In the hallowed halls of the World Economic Forum in Davos, world leaders gathered to address a specter haunting global health—the mysterious Disease X. Coined by the World Health Organization (WHO), this enigmatic term encapsulates the potential for a future pandemic that could dwarf even the grim toll of Covid-19.
Unveiling the Unknown: Disease X Defined
What is ‘Disease X’?
In the realm of infectious threats, Disease X is the clandestine villain—a microbial menace that eludes identification but harbors the potential for global catastrophe. Added to WHO’s priority list in 2017, it now shares the limelight with notorious diseases like SARS and Ebola, signifying an urgent call for research and preparedness.
The Role of Covid-19
Covid-19, the insidious outcome of a novel coronavirus, stands as a stark testament to Disease X. Emerging from the wildlife reservoir, these viruses possess the ominous ability to breach species barriers, leaving humanity vulnerable without immunity.
Unlocking the Significance: Studying Disease X
R&D Preparedness for the Unknown
The WHO emphasizes the imperative of early cross-cutting research and development (R&D) preparedness for diseases lurking in the shadows. The echoes of the Ebola epidemic, where lives were lost due to a lack of preparedness, prompted the creation of the R&D Blueprint—a strategic framework targeting priority diseases, including the elusive Disease X.
Current Priority Diseases
The list is a roster of formidable foes:
- COVID-19
- Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever
- Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease
- Lassa fever
- Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
- Nipah and henipaviral diseases
- Rift Valley fever
- Zika
- “Disease X”*
Journey into Advancements: Research and Preparedness
Rapid Vaccine Development
Drawing from the crucible of the Covid-19 response, organizations like the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) are championing rapid response vaccine platforms. The $3.5 billion plan aims to birth new vaccines within a mere 100 days of identifying a potential pandemic-causing virus.
Global Initiatives and Collaborations
A symphony of efforts plays out globally—updating International Health Regulations, crafting a new global agreement, the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin, and the Global Virome Project—a crusade against viral threats.
Addressing Challenges
The journey is fraught with challenges: weakened health systems, the anti-science movement fostering vaccine hesitancy, and the ever-looming risk of governments deprioritizing funding for outbreak preparedness.
Conclusion: The Imperative of Global Preparedness
As we unravel the enigma of Disease X, the discussions at Davos echo a resounding truth—the imperative of understanding and preparing for the unknown. In the crucible of collaborative efforts, ongoing research, and the lessons etched in the annals of past pandemics, we forge a path towards a resilient global healthcare system. With unknown threats on the horizon, proactive measures and international cooperation stand as the sentinels guarding against the specter of future pandemics.
*Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease. The R&D Blueprint explicitly seeks to enable early cross-cutting R&D preparedness that is also relevant for an unknown “Disease X”.