Global health experts are warning about a potential major pandemic, referred to as
‘Disease X’, which could result in millions of deaths. Despite the uncertainty surrounding this pandemic, authorities believe its emergence is likely. The lack of preparedness to handle this threat is concerning. The creation and distribution of vaccines will be crucial in combating ‘Disease X.
Global health experts are sounding the alarm about an upcoming threat of the next major pandemic that could claim millions of lives, Daily Mail reported.
Although the precise nature of this pandemic remains uncertain, global health authorities assert that its emergence is not a mere possibility but a likely occurrence. Referred to as ‘Disease X’ by the World Health Organization, experts believe that the lack of adequate preparedness both in Britain and within the international community to tackle this looming threat is concerning.
In an interview with Daily Mail, Kate Bingham. who chaired the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce between May and December 2020, said the world shouldn’t be too comfortable just because Covid is now “largely regarded as a routine illness”.
The report stated that the creation and distribution of vaccines will once more be essential to battle ‘Disease X’.
“Let me put it this way: the 1918-19 flu pandemic killed at least 50 million people worldwide, twice as many as were killed in World War I. Today, we could expect a similar death toll from one of the many viruses that already exist. Today, there are more viruses busily replicating and mutating than all the other life forms on our planet combined. Not all of them pose a threat to humans, of course – but plenty do,” Bingham told Daily Mail.
“In a sense, we got lucky with COVID-19, despite the fact that it caused 20 million or more deaths across the world. The point is that the vast majority of people infected with the virus managed to recover. Imagine Disease X is as infectious as measles with the fatality rate of Ebola [67%]. Somewhere in the world, it’s replicating, and sooner or later, somebody will start feeling sick,” she added.
Kate explained that the increase in pandemics cannot be attributed solely to a stroke of unfortunate chance. She emphasized that factors such as globalization, urban overpopulation, and deforestation have collectively created the
“ideal conditions” for viruses to leap across species boundaries.
She also highlighted the importance of scientists developing a range of “different prototype vaccines for every threatening virus family” that is currently known, ahead of the onset of the next pandemic.
