Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh
Healthcare professionals in the UK are bracing for a potential new pandemic referred to as "Disease X." This ominous term, coined by the World Health Organization, raises concerns about the virus's potential impact, comparing it to the devastating Spanish Flu of 1918-1920
Experts warn that Disease X has the potential to be 20 times deadlier than Covid-19, which has already claimed over 2.5 million lives worldwide since its emergence in 2020
Kate Bingham, former chair of the UK's Vaccine Taskforce, believes that Disease X poses a considerably greater threat than COVID-19. Expert estimates suggest Disease X could result in up to 50 million fatalities, rivalling the devastating 1918-19 flu pandemic, which claimed at least 50 million lives worldwide
In response to Disease X, Bingham emphasizes the urgent need for worldwide mass vaccination campaigns and swift vaccine distribution
Bingham highlights that while scientists have identified 25 virus families and thousands of individual viruses, there are potentially millions of undiscovered viruses with pandemic potential. Bingham envisions Disease X as highly infectious, akin to measles, yet with a staggering fatality rate, comparable to Ebola's 67%. She warns that it's a matter of time before it emerges
Bingham attributes the rise in outbreaks to urbanisation trends and the ongoing destruction of natural habitats, where many infectious diseases originate in animals
To combat Disease X, Bingham emphasises the importance of allocating substantial financial resources to mitigate its potential impact, citing the immense costs of inaction during the COVID-19 pandemic
Currently, there are no approved vaccines for Disease X. Bingham stresses the need for scientists to develop prototype vaccines for various virus families to gain a head start in targeting Disease X's specific features
Bingham underscores the importance of adopting a portfolio strategy for vaccines that target different facets of Disease X. Diverse vaccine types can stimulate various immune responses, providing multifaceted protection
In addressing Disease X, Bingham highlights the need for global collaboration, considering varying manufacturing capabilities across regions and advocating for the development of more durable, transportable, and affordable vaccines, while also encouraging innovative vaccine design approaches for future preparedness