The World Health Organization (WHO) created the term ‘Disease X’ in 2016 to describe a hypothetical disease that could cause a global pandemic in the future. It serves as a reminder to prepare for potential health crises, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic..
The term ‘Disease X’ was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2016 to describe a hypothetical disease that could cause a global pandemic in the future. It serves as a reminder to prepare for potential health crises, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when healthcare systems struggled to cope with the rapid spread of the virus. This week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, a discussion on ‘Disease X’ will focus on innovative measures to prepare healthcare systems for the challenges ahead.
Public speakers such as Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Preetha Reddy, Shyam Bishen, Roy Jakobs, Michel Demaré, and Nisia Trindade Lima are scheduled to speak at the “Preparation for Disease X” session. Researchers as part of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) are developing fast-response vaccination platforms as part of a $3.5 billion strategy.
However, the exact deadlyness of Disease X compared to COVID-19 is unknown. One concern is that it could be caused by an unknown pathogen, making it difficult to detect and treat. This delay in response can have disastrous consequences, as seen with the ongoing pandemic. Another factor making Disease X potentially deadlier than COVID-19 is its ease of transmission. The modes of transmission for Disease X are still unknown, but they could spread through respiratory droplets, contaminated surfaces, or insect bites, making it more difficult to contain and control, leading to a higher number of infections and fatalities.
However, it is important to note that the severity of a disease is also influenced by factors such as the availability of medical resources, the effectiveness of public health measures, and the overall health of the population. COVID-19 has a higher mortality rate in older individuals and those with underlying health conditions, while it may be less severe in younger and healthier individuals.
Investing in global health preparedness and response efforts, including strengthening healthcare systems, promoting research and development for new treatments and vaccines, and improving surveillance for potential outbreaks, is the best way to combat Disease X.
Conclusion
The World Health Organization (WHO) created the term ‘Disease X’ in 2016 to describe a hypothetical disease that could cause a global pandemic in the future. It serves as a reminder to prepare for potential health crises, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos will discuss the need for innovative measures to prepare healthcare systems for the challenges of ‘Disease X’. The disease’s severity varies, from less severe than the common cold to more lethal than COVID-19. The severity of a disease is also influenced by factors like availability of medical resources, public health measures, and population health.
