World Leaders to Discuss ‘Disease X’ Pandemic Preparedness at Davos Summit

World leaders are set to gather at the annual Davos summit in Switzerland to discuss preparation for the next pandemic. The World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting will address the potential risks posed by a hypothetical pathogen known as ‘Disease X‘. Experts have warned that Disease X could potentially be even more deadly than the recent Covid-19 outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been raising concerns about Disease X since 2017, signifying an unknown pathogen that could cause a severe global epidemic.

Author Kate Kelland has highlighted the importance of extensive research into existing virus families to better prepare for future outbreaks. By studying known viral families, scientists can gain valuable knowledge and develop vaccines in advance. One example of this preparedness is the case of monkeypox, which already had a vaccine in place due to its similarity to smallpox. Dame Kate Bingham, a former member of the UK’s vaccine panel, has warned that Disease X could result in 20 times more fatalities than Covid-19.

The ‘Preparing for Disease X’ event at Davos will feature public speakers such as Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, Nisia Trindade Lima, Brazil Minister of Health, Michel Demaré, chair of the board at AstraZeneca, and others. The WHO previously brought together over 300 scientists to evaluate various virus families and bacteria that could potentially cause another pandemic. The list included Ebola, Marburg, SARS, MERS-CoV, as well as other diseases such as lassa fever, nipah, henipaviral diseases, zift Valley fever, zika, and the unknown pathogen that would cause Disease X.

While the meeting at Davos has been misinterpreted as a conspiracy by some, experts emphasize the importance of such gatherings to coordinate global efforts in pandemic preparedness. Planning and coordination are key in responding effectively to potential health crises. The WHO keeps a list of the most concerning pathogens, including Disease X, to prioritize research and countermeasures. The updated list is expected to be released in the first half of 2024.