What is Disease X?
And How Could It Lead to a Public Health Emergency?
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers Disease X to represent the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease. Disease X is hypothetical in nature and to that extent does not constitute a current threat.
The scientists who were involved in the discovery of the Ebola virus now very urgently warn of more unknown zoonotic diseases cropping up as potential Disease Xs in the very near future. The current concerns stem from the mysterious case of a woman from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who scientists believe to be patient zero of an unknown disease.
The “Patient Zero” Case
The woman was found showing symptoms of a hemorrhagic fever, however she tested negative for multiple diseases, including Ebola. This then led to discussion amongst scientists that it could be a potential Disease X still unknown to mankind.
Scientists estimate the impact of the potential Disease X to be of high risk with a spread rate similar to that of COVID-19 and a mortality rate similar or even higher than Ebola’s 90%.
Written by Eesha Catherine Vakkan
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