Disease X: What Is It? And Why Are They Discussing It?

Once again, "Disease X" is trending on social media and in news feeds. What then is Disease X in reality? How come it's the talk of the town? And is there any reason to worry about it?

What is the X-ray disease?

Certain scientists and the World Health Organisation (WHO) refer to unidentified infections as "Disease X" when they have the potential to produce a major global pandemic comparable to or worse than COVID-19.

The phrase is not brand-new. The WHO initially employed it in 2018, but when COVID-19 emerged and dramatically brought attention to the necessity of pandemic preparedness, it was rekindled in the public consciousness. Because COVID-19 was a unique disease that was unknown to science when it first began infecting humans, some scientists have even suggested that it should be regarded as the "first Disease X."

What will be Disease X's next victim?

The problem is that nobody is certain.

A priority list of known pathogens, including the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), Lassa fever, Ebola, Rift Valley fever, Zika, Lassa fever, Nipah and henipaviral diseases, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and COVID-19, has been published by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Disease X, a fictitious moniker for a novel infectious agent that no scientist has yet identified, is also included in the priority list.

To paraphrase the notorious 2002 speech by US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld, it is regarded as a "known unknown." Although the precise nature of the threat is unknown, its existence is undeniable.

A related Apathogen is already present and unidentified in a natural reservoir, "waiting" for the ideal mutation (and opportunity) to allow it to spread to people. In other words, we're not sure yet.

Why is Disease X on everyone's mind these days?

A recent expert panel debate on Disease X took place at the 2024 World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, with WHO director-general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Conspiracy theories involving "global elites preparing to release Disease X" have been sparked by this. But that is a complete misrepresentation of what was stated. As is almost inevitable (as it has always been throughout human history), the discourse was merely about getting ready for the next pandemic.

"Disease X is a stand-in for an unidentified illness... Even though COVID struck quickly, we were ready for illnesses that resembled COVID. Dr. Tedros stated, "You might even consider COVID as the 'first Disease X,' and it might happen again."

Of course, some individuals worry that this could spread fear. No. He continued, "It's preferable to plan and anticipate anything that might happen since it has happened numerous times in our past.

Does Disease X warrant your concern?

Yes, to put it briefly. But don't panic—you don't need to go rummaging through the stores to find toilet paper.

It is nearly a given that there will eventually be another worldwide pandemic. Throughout human history, epidemics have devastated people and continuously changed the face of global society.

Because we live in a highly linked, globalized, and urbanized world that provides the perfect environment for an infectious virus to spread rapidly among millions of people, the probability of a pandemic is considerably higher in the twenty-first century. Furthermore, the likelihood that humanity may come into contact with possible diseases and experience a spillover event is rising due to its increasing encroachment on the natural environment.

The good news is that a variety of preparedness, preventive, and response measures are already being taken throughout the world to become ready for the next pandemic. Hopefully, the COVID-19 pandemic taught us valuable lessons about how to handle disease outbreaks and when not to.