What is Disease X? Why is WHO stressing on preparedness for next pandemic caused by this disease?

This concept highlights the need for proactive measures to address a potential novel infectious agent, one that could emerge and pose a considerable threat to human health.

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What is Disease X?

Disease X is a placeholder term, emphasising the importance of preparedness for both known and unknown viral disease threats, serving as a reminder to be ready for any potential future health risks.

It’s crucial to understand that Disease X isn’t a specific disease but rather a label for a potential future health hazard.

Coined in 2017, the term encompasses both a recently identified pathogen and any known pathogen that has newly acquired the potential for a pandemic.

Under the latter interpretation, Covid-19 was the inaugural Disease X. However, the prospect remains that another such instance could emerge in the future.

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Why is it in the news?

During the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos in Switzerland from 15 to 19 January, the WHO cautioned global leaders about the potential risks of future pandemics.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus dismissed concerns about causing panic and emphasised the importance of anticipating and preparing for potential threats based on historical patterns.

The next potential Disease X remains uncertain.

This uncertainty is inherent in the term “Disease X”, reflecting the WHO’s acknowledgement of an as-yet-unknown infectious condition with pandemic potential.

This hypothetical disease is not a specific illness but represents a novel infectious agent that could lead to a severe epidemic or pandemic.

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The Davos summit

At the Davos summit, healthcare experts emphasised the importance of preparing for Disease X to save lives and expenses by undertaking proper prior research and preemptive measures of a known outbreak.

Ghebreyesus highlighted the need to anticipate potential health threats and prepare for them.

“Of course, there are some people who say this may create panic. It’s better to anticipate something that may happen because it has happened in our history many times, and prepare for it”, said Ghebreyesus.

The panel also discussed the importance of international cooperation, research and development, and the strengthening of existing systems to enhance preparedness for potential pandemics.

While the concept of Disease X has sparked some social media controversy and conspiracy theories, the WHO maintains that preparedness for such potential threats is essential to better cope with novel pandemics, given the large number of potential pathogens and limited resources for disease research and development.

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Prepardeness to combat Disease X

The response to Disease X involves various measures, including international cooperation, research and development.

The development of country-level initiatives such as tentative response plans in the event of an outbreak of a new disease is also crucial.

This preparedness also involves increased surveillance of diseases to quickly detect any novel pathogens that could pose a serious threat.

According to a study by the Gates Foundation-backed organisation, Resolve to Save Lives, global investments of just $124 billion over five years could significantly improve the world’s preparedness for major epidemics in the future, potentially reducing the associated costs.

The Disease X panel at Davos emphasised the importance of proactive measures to address potential future health risks, including the development of medical countermeasures for unknown viral threats.

The WHO has classified Disease X as a “placeholder” term for a potentially deadly virus.

While the concept has sparked controversy and conspiracy theories on social media, the organisation maintains that preparedness for such potential threats is crucial.