People on social media, especially those with right-wing views, criticized the planning for a made-up situation called “Disease X” after it was discussed at the World Economic Forum.
In November 2022, more than 300 scientists got together to talk about a pretend germ that could lead to a really bad worldwide sickness, with a death rate 20 times higher than Covid-19.
This imaginary danger, called Disease X, is a term scientists use to push for making things to protect us, like vaccines and tests, just in case something like this ever really happens.
What is Disease X?
Scientists and the World Health Organization came up with the name Disease X for a mystery germ that might pop up someday and lead to a big global sickness outbreak. They added it to a list of diseases in 2018 that need serious attention for research and development on a worldwide scale. It’s a big deal for CEPI’s research and development efforts too.
Disease X Signs and Symptoms
If someone gets hit with Disease X, the symptoms can show up all of a sudden. They might have a fever, muscle cramps, and feel dizzy. Other things like neck pain, back pain, headaches, swollen eyes, and being sensitive to light can happen. People might also feel sick to their stomach with nausea, vomiting, and tummy pain, plus diarrhea and a sore throat.
Mood swings, confusion, and feeling really agitated can happen too. After a few days, that agitation might turn into sleepiness, anxiety, and being alone. The upper right side of the belly might hurt, and the liver could get bigger, according to the WHO.
More signs and symptoms include a fast heartbeat, swollen lymph nodes, and tiny blisters on the skin and inside the mouth and throat.
If the infection gets worse, hepatitis (a liver problem) can also show up. By the fourth or fifth day of being sick, some people might have organ failure. Sadly, most people who get really sick from Disease X pass away in the second week of being ill. But those who make it past the ninth or tenth day usually start getting better.
Could Disease X be the next big health problem?
There’s a good chance that the next big health threat might come from a new and unknown Disease X. But it’s not just that – there’s also a risk that known germs could change or come back, causing big international outbreaks or even pandemics, like what happened with the Chikungunya virus.
Is Disease X a real thing? Can it make you sick?
Well, Disease X itself is like an idea, not an actual illness that exists right now. But the idea is a warning about a serious health threat that could happen. The last time we faced something like Disease X was when the COVID-19 virus showed up. Since we weren’t ready, it spread fast and caused a big pandemic, leading to lots of people getting sick and even dying. Luckily, vaccines have helped a lot, saving millions of lives.
Where Disease X Might Come From?
The World Health Organization (WHO) keeps an eye on certain viruses and infections that could cause big problems, like spreading really fast or not having good treatments. Here’s a list of some of them:
- Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
- Covid-19
- Ebola
- Marburg
- Lassa fever
- Zika
- Nipah
- Rift Valley fever
- Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
- Zoonotic viruses
- Bacterial Infection
When will Disease X happen, and will it affect you?
It’s hard to say when or where the next Disease X will show up. What we do know is that it’s out there, waiting to jump from animals to people and cause a new outbreak. Recent times have seen more and more outbreaks of dangerous diseases like SARS, MERS, and Zika. A study from 2022 suggests there’s about a 1 in 50 chance each year of a pandemic similar to COVID-19 happening. So, there’s a 38 percent chance you might experience something like this in your lifetime. And sadly, things like changes in the environment make that risk even higher.
Where will this new Disease X come from?
New diseases pop up all the time, usually jumping from animals like bats to humans. Scientists think the next Disease X will probably be caused by a new virus from one of about 25 virus families that have already proven they can make people sick.
How can we get ready for Disease X if we don’t even know what it is?
Even though we can’t predict exactly what Disease X will be like or when it will show up, we can still get ready for it. Scientists can study those 25 or so virus families that are likely to have the next Disease X. This way, they can start working on new defenses like vaccines and treatments that can be quickly adjusted to fight a new virus.
How to We Prevent the Next Big Sickness Before it Starts?
We can do a bunch of things to make sure the next big sickness doesn’t cause too much trouble and to get ready for new diseases:
- Keep an Eye Out: Invest in watching out for any signs of sickness spreading.
- Think about Everyone’s Health: Make sure we’re taking care of both people and animals to prevent diseases.
- Use Antibiotics Wisely: Be smart about using medicines to fight infections.
- Build Stronger Hospitals: Make our healthcare systems stronger so they can handle more sick people.
- Team Up with Other Countries: Work together with different countries to be ready for any sickness that shows up.
- Plan Ahead: Make plans to be prepared and stop the next big sickness from turning into a pandemic.
