“Exploring the Potential Threat of the Next Pandemic and How to Stay Ahead”
The World Health Organization used the term Disease X for the first time in 2018. After a year, the virus called covid 19 emerged and spread all over the world
Recently, the World Health Organization has warned that the countries of the world should be prepared to face the next pandemic, which may be more deadly and spreadable than Covid. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, said this in a report presented at the 76th World Health Assembly. The World Health Organization has informed that another virus more intense than Covid may come and be prepared. The World Health Organization estimates that this unknown disease called Disease X will have more impact than Covid. Now the health expert from the UK has given a similar warning. Kate Bingham, who was the chairman of the vaccine taskforce in the UK, has said about this.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Kate explained that she needs to be prepared for Disease X. Kate says it will be similar to the Spanish flu of 1918 to 1920 and is a coming disease. Fifty million people died worldwide during the 1918-18 flu. Kate says she expects the same death toll. Kate says it could be from one of the many viruses out there.
While researchers have currently identified about 25 virus variants, Kate says there could be as many as a million undetected. Covid has claimed millions of lives, but most people have contracted the disease and recovered. Kate says that if Disease X was as contagious as measles and as deadly as Ebola, the situation would be dire.
Ebola had a death rate of about sixty-seven percent. Avian flu and MERS virus have claimed many lives. So the next pandemic will be unpredictable. Kate also talks about the rising rate of epidemics.
Kate says that people are becoming more connected through globalization and that viruses are being transferred from one species to another due to deforestation and the destruction of wetlands.
UK to develop vaccine targeting Disease X It is reported that the researchers have already started. Their research focuses on viruses that can infect humans and spread rapidly around the world. Avian flu, monkeypox, hantavirus etc. are being monitored.
What is Disease X?
In Disease X, the X stands for something we don’t know is all of them. That means it will be a new disease. Therefore, knowledge about it will be limited no matter how it is formed. No idea when it will be confirmed or spread. But the important thing is that Disease X is coming soon and we need to be ready. The World Health Organization says that this disease, which may spread globally, may be spread by a virus, bacteria or fungus.
A major concern is the lack of clarity about the disease, even when it comes to the severity of disease X. The World Health Organization used the term Disease X for the first time in 2018. After a year, the virus called covid 19 emerged and spread all over the world. Even then, the World Health Organization warned that the disease X could be a virus that could spread globally.
By focusing on Disease X, the WHO aims to reduce the delay in confirming viral epidemics and provide immediate access to vaccines and effective treatment.
