Introduction: The World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling for countries to sign a global pandemic treaty, addressing the looming threat of ‘Disease X’—unknown infectious conditions capable of causing epidemics or pandemics.
Disease X and the Need for Preparedness: Coined in 2017, Disease X represents unforeseen pathogens with pandemic potential. The WHO warns of a potential Disease X more severe than COVID-19, likely a zoonotic disease with an RNA virus.
Pandemic Treaty Framework: Post-COVID-19, the WHO proposed a pandemic treaty in 2023, aiming to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from pandemics. The deadline for agreement is the 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024.
WHO Initiatives for Future Preparedness: Director-General Dr. Tedros emphasizes the need for a shared response to combat Disease X. WHO initiatives include a pandemic fund, mRNA technology transfer hub, Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, and the WHO BioHub System.
Conclusion: With Disease X on the horizon, global cooperation through a pandemic treaty becomes imperative, ensuring a united front against future health crises.