Experts Gather in Davos to Discuss ‘Disease X’ and Prepare for Future Pandemics
Leaders and experts from around the world have gathered in Davos to discuss not only the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, but also a mysterious and hypothetical disease known as ‘disease X’.
The beraking latest news news agency reports that the World Health Organization has previously spoken about ‘disease X’ back in 2018, and it has now entered the agenda of the World Economic Forum in Davos. While it is not a disease that currently exists, experts believe that studying it could facilitate prevention and help to prepare flexible and transversal actions to stem the spread of diseases, including this potential future threat.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about the need to prepare for ‘disease X’, stating, “We have known the Zika virus, Ebola, and we know what can happen. But we must have a plan for a future and unknown ‘disease X’, which we have been talking about for many years. Covid was the first disease to test our ability to anticipate and prepare for this. Having an early warning system, knowing how to quickly expand health systems, and investing more in primary care are crucial.”
In November 2022, over 300 scientists and experts gathered at the behest of the WHO to hypothesize about the potential impact of ‘disease X’. They warned that this future pathology could cause 20 times more deaths than Covid-19, emphasizing the need for new efforts to prepare health systems for the many future challenges.
The discussion in Davos aims to bring attention to the importance of preparing for potential future pandemics and the necessity of developing proactive measures to prevent and combat future disease outbreaks. As the world continues to grapple with Covid-19, experts are looking ahead and strategizing to ensure that they are better equipped to handle whatever challenges ‘disease X’ or any other future health threat may bring.