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

health By Sumit Jha Jan 21, 2024 Read the article

Devised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Disease X is a term referring to a theoretical, unidentified pathogen that could trigger an epidemic or pandemic in the future.

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

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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 risks of future pandemics.

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

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Healthcare experts emphasised the importance of preparing for Disease X to save lives by undertaking proper prior research and preemptive measures of a known outbreak.

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“It’s better to anticipate something that may happen because it has happened in our history many times, and prepare for it”, said Ghebreyesus.

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

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

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