Disease X Raises Concerns, Leaders Sound Alarm At Davos

At the 54th edition of the World Economic Forum's Davos summit, the spotlight was on ‘Disease X’, a potential global pandemic that could cause 20 times more deaths than the coronavirus pandemic. To discuss the potential dangers of the pandemic, eminent public speakers took centre stage at the global summit on Wednesday.

Disease X does not refer to any particular illness but rather points to an ailment that can cause microbial hazards. This terminology encapsulates the notion of an unidentified disease capable of triggering extensive sickness and death. According to reports, ‘The World Health Organisation (WHO) added Disease X to a short list of pathogens in 2017.

WHO declared the X pathogen to be a high-priority subject for research, along with other deadly diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Ebola.

Warning about the virus, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) underscored that “Disease X is not a recent phenomenon but a cautionary reminder that our focus should not be solely on understanding the disease itself, but on being adequately prepared for it.”

“Disease X is a placeholder for an unknown disease,” - WHO Director-General

The Director-General of WHO indicated that we need to be prepared for the upcoming consequences that according to experts could kill as many as 50 million people. He said this sound alarms to develop an early warning system that could prepare individuals for future uncertainties. 

Hospitals and workforces must be prepared for dire situations, a lesson we learned from our shortcomings during the Covid-19 pandemic, suggested Ghebreyesus.

He said today research and developments are at the blueprint trying to find a solution for unknown diseases, but it should be at the centre of testing. 

Several reports claimed that Disease X is potentially deadlier than the Covid 19, which caused about 6,969,916 deaths as of 17 January 2024, as per Worldometer data. However, the mode of X's transmission is yet to be discovered, some research estimates that it can spread through respiratory droplets, contaminated surfaces, or even through insect bites.

Addressing the urgency of this issue Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals said that generally, any non-communicable diseases (NCDs) claim the lives of 41 million individuals annually. This number accounts for 74 per cent of all global deaths, underscoring the critical need for a substantial emphasis on combating Disease X.

Reddy stressed that although the world currently depends on technology to combat NCDs, "We have the potential to utilise our traditional methods to effectively manage the transmission of this illness."

The Chairperson of the Apollo Hospital added that countries worldwide should be capable of making quick and incisive decisions when any pandemic outbreaks. She weighed on India’s role during Covid 19.

“India with a population of more than 1.5 billion demonstrated its exemplary resilience during the pandemic through the implementation of lockdowns, vaccinations and other crucial measures that were imperative during such a critical juncture,” - Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals

Asserting on the quick adaptive measures Nisia Trindade Lima, Minister of Health, Ministry of Health of Brazil said we should see Disease X in the light of Covid 19. “We have the learnings now but we need the transformative forces to bring on the effective measures to respond to the fatal illness.”

It is vital to enhance fairness and equality in the fields of science, technology and innovation, Lima added.

Roy Jakobs, President and Chief Executive Officer, Royal Philips proposed that humanity must collaborate to initiate significant transformation to curb the transmissive disease. Moreover, forums of WEF Davos stature need to play a crucial role in mobilising the entire system holistically.

On similar lines, the Chair of the Board of Directors at AstraZeneca said in contrast to a global partnership, it is important to place trust in the capabilities that artificial intelligence (AI) generates to combat Disease X. This advanced technology has the potential to assist not only with the innovation related to the virus but also in the administrative developments surrounding it.