Amidst growing concerns in the global health community, Disease X is making waves as the latest potential health threat.
Disease X potentially 20 times more deadly than COVID-19
This hypothetical illness, a topic of discussion at a recent panel in Davos, Switzerland, is raising eyebrows for its potential to be 20 times more fatal than the COVID-19 pandemic.
But exactly what is Disease X?
Disease X is not a specific disease but rather a placeholder name given by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2017 for a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease.
It symbolises the acknowledgement that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen yet to be identified. The idea is to be prepared for an unknown “Disease X.”
Professor Kerry Bowman, a bioethics and global health expert at the University of Toronto, describes Disease X as “a hypothetical scenario where a very nasty disease, more powerful than COVID-19, emerges.”
This concept emphasises preparation for a rapidly emerging disease threat, rather than focusing solely on known diseases.
Why are scientists speculating about a ‘hypothetical’ disease?
While preparation is crucial, there is also a growing belief that prevention should be given equal emphasis.
The threat of Disease X is considered to be zoonotic, meaning it could emerge from animals. The decimation of animal populations and loss of forests are increasing the risk of diseases jumping from animals to humans.
This concern is amplified by the rising global temperatures and associated extreme weather conditions, such as flooding, droughts, and wildfires, which could potentially lead to the next worldwide health crisis.
Interestingly, the COVID-19 virus, which started spreading globally in late 2019, was considered an example of Disease X.
The rapid development of vaccines for COVID-19 is seen as a testament to the importance of being prepared for such unknown diseases.
Science labs already developing vaccines for ‘hypothetical’ Disease X
The WHO and various health organisations are taking the threat of Disease X seriously, with work on vaccines already underway at high-security facilities like the Porton Down laboratory complex in Wiltshire, UK. Over 200 scientists are engaged in this effort.
Kate Bingham, former chair of the UK vaccine taskforce, underlined the importance of being ready for Disease X, potentially as infectious as measles and as lethal as Ebola.
She emphasised the need to “take the first steps in dealing with the next pandemic right now,” which involves significant investment and research.
Scientists around the world have compiled a threat list of animal viruses capable of infecting humans and potentially spreading rapidly. However, the specific pathogen that might trigger the next pandemic remains unknown, hence the reference to it as “Disease X”.
As Mark Woolhouse, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, puts it, another pandemic-causing virus is not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’. The unpredictable nature of virus emergence makes it imperative to focus on both prevention and preparedness.