The World Health Organization (WHO) is conducting scientific consultations around the world to identify priority pathogens for the coming year, those that can cause pandemics, including what they call “Disease X.”
More than 300 researchers will test 25 families of viruses and bacteria to allocate necessary resources to research and develop vaccines, treatments, and trials to prevent outbreaks.
“Starting with a meeting held on Friday, November 18, the WHO is convening more than 300 scientists who will consider evidence from more than 25 families of viruses and bacteria, as well as ‘Disease X’,” the WHO published. “The process will include both scientific and public health criteria, as well as criteria related to socioeconomic impact, access, and equity.”
Disease X and the dangers for 2023
Among these WHO analyzes will be the study of “Disease X”.
“Disease X is included to indicate an unknown pathogen that could cause a serious international epidemic,” explains the international organization.
The list was first published in 2017. Currently the WHO list includes:
- The Covid-19,
- Crimean-Cong hemorrhagic fever (CCHF),
- Ebola virus disease (EVD) and Marburg virus disease (MVD),
- lassa fever,
- Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS),
- severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS),
- Nipah virus disease and other henipavirals,
- Rift Valley fever (RVF),
- Zika virus disease,
- the “Disease X”.
The revised list is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2023.
“Without the significant investments in research and development made before the covid-19 pandemic, it would not have been possible to develop safe and effective vaccines in record time,” says the executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, Michael Ryan. .
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