WHO Urges Nations to Endorse Pandemic Treaty to Prepare for Potential Threat of ‘Disease X’
In a compelling address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), called upon nations to endorse the organization’s pandemic treaty. The purpose of this treaty is to prepare for the potential threat of “Disease X,” a theoretical yet unidentified virus that scientists warn could be even more lethal than Covid-19.
Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of finalizing the pandemic pact by May, urging countries to come together and combat this “common enemy.” He referred to Covid-19 as the initial instance of Disease X, highlighting the importance of readiness for future pandemics. According to him, “There are things that are unknown that may happen, and anything happening is a matter of when, not if, so we need to have a placeholder for that, for the diseases we don’t know.”
The losses incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic were attributed to inadequate management by Ghebreyesus. He lamented the lack of resources and infrastructure that could have saved lives. “They could have been saved, but there was no space. There was not enough oxygen. So how can you have a system that can expand when the need comes?” he questioned.
The potential consequences of being unprepared for a disease of this magnitude are catastrophic, potentially surpassing the devastation caused by Covid-19, which claimed over 7 million lives according to WHO.
Understanding ‘Disease X’
‘Disease X’ is a placeholder name adopted by the WHO in 2018. It represents a hypothetical, unknown pathogen that could cause a future epidemic. The purpose of this placeholder name is to ensure that planning is flexible enough to adapt to an unknown pathogen, allowing for broader vaccine development and manufacturing facilities.
Anthony Fauci, the Director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, believes that the concept of Disease X will encourage WHO projects to focus their research efforts on entire classes of viruses rather than just individual strains. This approach will enhance the organization’s capability to respond to unforeseen strains.
The WHO assembled 300 scientists in 2022 to scrutinize 25 virus families and bacteria. The objective was to identify pathogens with the potential to cause significant disruption and necessitate further study. Among these pathogens, ‘Disease X’ was identified. The term was first coined by the organization in 2018 to denote a pathogen unknown yet capable of triggering a severe international epidemic.
How will ‘Disease X’ emerge?
Experts anticipate that ‘Disease X’ will manifest as a respiratory virus. Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, suggests that the virus may already be present within animal populations but has not yet made the leap to human hosts. He explains that it could potentially originate from bats, birds, or other animal species such as swine.
Preparations for ‘Disease X’
To prepare for the potential emergence of ‘Disease X,’ the WHO and other stakeholders have proposed several strategies. These include strengthening surveillance and response systems, developing and deploying vaccines and treatments, enhancing public health measures, and building resilience and preparedness.
Strengthening surveillance and response systems involves improving the detection, reporting, and investigation of disease outbreaks. It also entails better coordination and communication among different actors and sectors.
Developing and deploying vaccines and treatments is crucial in combating unknown pathogens. Accelerating research and development in this area is essential to ensure the availability of safe and effective interventions. Equitable distribution and access to these interventions are also key considerations.
Enhancing public health measures is vital in preventing and controlling the spread of diseases. Measures such as hygiene practices, isolation, quarantine, contact tracing, social distancing, and mask-wearing play a significant role in reducing transmission.
Building resilience and preparedness involves enhancing the capacity and readiness of individuals, communities, and health systems to cope with and recover from disease outbreaks. It also requires addressing the social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health.
In conclusion, the urgency to endorse the pandemic treaty proposed by the WHO cannot be overstated. The potential threat of ‘Disease X’ looms large, and nations must come together to prepare for this unknown pathogen. By strengthening surveillance systems, developing vaccines and treatments, implementing public health measures, and building resilience, we can mitigate the impact of future pandemics. The lessons learned from Covid-19 should serve as a wake-up call to prioritize global cooperation and preparedness in the face of potential health crises.
