In its latest release, the World Health Organization has stated that it is soon going to update a list of priority pathogens that have the ability to cause pandemics and outbreaks across the globe. Disease X will also be a part of this list.
Disease X has been identified as an unknown pathogen that can cause a severe international epidemic.
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| What is Disease X? |
As per the WHO, both public health criteria, scientific lenses, and criteria associated with socioeconomic impacts, equity, and access, will be taken into consideration for the process.
The WHO states that the list is being updated to show a path forward to global investments and research and development. The process commenced on Friday. Up till now, over 300 scientists are analyzing the evidence on approximately two dozen virus families and bacteria.
In the year 2017, the list was published for the very first time. The last time such an effort has been taken was in 2018. At present, the current list comprises names like Crimean-Cong, Covid-19, Ebola virus, hemorrhagic fever, Marburg virus disease, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Rift Valley fever, Disease X, and Zika.
