What is Disease X Pandemic? Which is Deadlier Than Covid-19
Published By- The Qualts
Published Date- 26 Sept 2023
Emerging Pandemic: Disease X
Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to to cause human disease.
Deadlier Than Covid-19
The World Health Organisation (WHO) calls Diesase X, 20 times more deadly than COVID-19.
Experts Analysis
Kate Bingham, Chairperson of the UK's Vaccine Taskforce from May to December 2020, said that she believed Disease X could turn out to be considerably more perilous than COVID-19.
Disease X Potential
Kate Bingham, Also said that Disease X has the potential to cause a catastrophic global death toll similar to the devastating 1918-19 flu pandemic, with an estimated 50 million fatalities,
Mass Vaccination Necessity
Bingham emphasized that “the world will have to prepare for mass vaccination drives and deliver the doses in record time."
Undiscovered Viruses
Bingham said that “Many virus families have been identified, but millions more remain undiscovered, posing a potential pandemic threat."
More Threat
While COVID-19 was a devastating pandemic, we were fortunate that the majority of infected individuals recovered. However, the hypothetical Disease X, with measles-like infectiousness and a 67% fatality rate like Ebola, would present a far graver threat.
Financial Preparation
Bingham emphasizes the critical importance of allocating financial resources upfront to address potential global health crises like Disease X, citing the staggering $16 trillion cost incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a stark reminder of the seismic monetary consequences of inaction.
Why Pandemics?
Kate explains that globalisation, coupled with urbanisation and destruction of nature, is contributing to the growing incidence of pandemics.