Global Urgency: WHO Calls for Unified Action Against Potential ‘Disease X’ Pandemic

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has sounded a global alarm regarding the looming threat of a potential new pandemic known as ‘Disease X.’ WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, stressed the critical need for international collaboration to combat this hypothetical but potentially devastating health crisis. The call for action comes as Disease X is speculated to be 20 times deadlier than COVID-19, as reported by Fox News.

A Global Response: Urgent Plea for a Pandemic Treaty

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ghebreyesus urged countries worldwide to unite and endorse a ‘pandemic treaty’ by May, emphasising the importance of preparing for unforeseen health threats. In addressing the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, he underscored the necessity of a flexible system capable of expanding promptly to meet escalating demands.Ghebreyesus emphasised the existence of unknown factors that might unfold, stating that occurrences are a question of when, not if. He highlighted the necessity of having a placeholder for unforeseen diseases, underscoring the importance of preparedness for unknown health threats.

The WHO has taken proactive measures in anticipation of potential outbreaks, establishing a pandemic fund and creating a “technology transfer hub” in South Africa. Ghebreyesus also highlighted the issue of vaccine equity, pointing out the problem of high-income countries hoarding vaccines. To address this, the WHO has set up an mRNA technology transfer hub in South Africa, aiming to enhance local vaccine production and ensure fair distribution.

Unveiling ‘Disease X’: A Potential Global Health Crisis

Disease X is not a specific disease but rather the potential emergence of a virus akin to COVID-19, representing an unknown pathogen with the potential to cause a serious international epidemic. Categorised by the WHO among potential threats like Ebola, Lassa fever, MERS, Nipah, and Zika, Disease X poses a unique challenge due to its unpredictable nature. Introduced formally by the WHO in 2018, Disease X serves as a placeholder for the next unknown disease of epidemic potential. A WHO report from November 2022 highlights the difficulty in addressing numerous potential pathogens with limited resources for research and development, emphasising the urgent need for global preparedness.