The World Health Organization (WHO) made another surprising announcement about a new pandemic threat of Disease X that could have a worse impact than COVID-19. The statement was issued after ample research and analysis, highlighting the urgent need for preparedness and global cooperation to prevent the possible disaster.
The WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, addressed the media during a press conference stating that “The world must not underestimate the situation we are facing. We have identified a new pandemic threat, one that can possibly be more devastating than COVID-19 if not addressed quickly and decisively.”
What is Disease X?
Disease X is a term adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to describe a new pathogen that’s likely to cause a new pandemic. This disease might kill 20 times more people than COVID-19 did. There is currently no assurance that this will occur. However, for prevention, vaccines must be developed and supplied on time.
What Might Cause The Next Pandemic?
The exact source of the next pandemic remains unknown, but six virus families are considered the most likely responsible, including Adenoviridae, Coronaviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Picornaviridae, and Poxviridae. These families show characteristics such as a lack of inherent immunity, airborne transmission, silent spread by asymptomatic individuals, and the absence of medicines or vaccines.
Steps To Stop The Next Pandemic
- Countries are requested to invest in building strong healthcare systems, stock up medical supplies, and improve monitoring systems for early detection and response capabilities.
- Encourage global cooperation in information sharing, resource allocation, and research efforts.
- The WHO is focusing on the importance of strong vaccination campaigns to fight misinformation related to vaccines to increase global immunity against the diseases.
As we know nothing about the identity of the new pathogen (Disease X), efforts are focused on developing a medical cure against virus families that are most likely to be responsible for pandemic rather than targeting a specific virus. The proposal suggests creating a Disease X Medical Countermeasure Program, supported by funding, which uses adaptable vaccination platforms and technology capable of targeting various possible pandemic viruses. The idea of private-public collaborations could fasten the development of vaccinations, antivirals, and diagnostics for unknown pandemic viruses in months rather than years, ensuring a quick response to future threats.
Need For Preparedness
Dr. Tedros concluded his statement with a warning, “We have learned many lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, and now is the time to apply those lessons to prevent another global epidemic. The world must act decisively, or we risk facing a pandemic that could be even more devastating than what we have experienced so far.”
COVID-19, which took the lives of over 20 million people around the globe, is considered as not the worst-case scenario by experts. Diseases like Ebola, Avian flu, and MERS had higher mortality rates. The world must pay attention to the warning, taking dedicated measures, and working together to prevent the emergence of a pandemic that could surpass the impact of previous pandemics.
It is a sharp reminder that the threat of infectious diseases remains a global concern, which requires attentiveness and preparedness. To deal with the upcoming threat, there must be an increased investment in vaccine research and development, the strengthening of healthcare systems and monitoring, and enhanced global collaboration and coordination. According to the experts, the next pandemic is not a matter of if but when, and the world must be prepared to respond effectively.
