Disease X on the agenda: Everything you need to know about Disease X
Claimed to be 20 times more lethal than the Covid-19 pandemic, "Disease X" is currently a trending topic on social media. What is Disease X, and how is it transmitted? Everything you need to know about Disease X...
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At the World Economic Forum, it was announced that a panel featuring speakers including representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca would be held.
A meeting titled "Preparing for Disease X" is planned for the forum, where discussions will focus on what new efforts are needed to address any potential health threats.
'A SERIOUS EPIDEMIC'
On the WHO's website, it is stated that "Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease."
The pathogens that could cause the disease are not yet known.
WHAT IS DISEASE X?
- It is believed that the greatest threat of "Disease X" will stem from a zoonotic virus, meaning one that emerges in animals.
- An example of a zoonotic disease is the "H1N1 influenza" virus, commonly known as swine flu.
- The alarming scale of animal extinction and forest loss caused by humans worldwide makes this threat increasingly likely.