What is Disease X?
According to the WHO, “Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease.”
The term was coined in 2018.
Disease X is the mysterious name given to the very serious threat that unknown viruses pose to human health.
What are the list of pathogens named by WHO that may cause “Severe pandemic”?
Currently, the list includes
COVID-19
Ebola virus disease
Marburg virus disease
Lassa fever
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
Nipah Virus
Zika Virus
latest entry to the list is “Disease X.”
Disease X Situation in UK
UK healthcare professionals are preparing for a potential new pandemic known as ‘Disease X,’ which could be more deadly than COVID-19, with the capacity to result in 20 times more fatalities. Disease X could potentially cause up to 50 million deaths.
They caution that this new virus could have a similar impact to the devastating Spanish Flu of 1918-1920.
In response to Disease X, the world will have to prepare for mass vaccination drives and deliver the doses in record time.