World leaders gathered at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland this week to address the potential of a hypothetical virus named Disease X, exploring strategies to avert the looming threat of another devastating pandemic.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with other health officials, engaged in discussions to address and understand the implications of Disease X.
Addressing the session at Davos, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, emphasized that the world must unite against the looming threat of ‘Disease X.’
What is Disease X?
The term “Disease X” refers to the unidentified cause of a potential future pandemic, listed as a priority by the WHO in 2018, a year before the emergence of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China.
It secured a spot on a concise list of high-priority pathogens earmarked for intensive research, alongside notorious threats such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Ebola.
“You may even call Covid the first ‘disease X’. And it may happen again,” Dr Tedros said.
“Of course there are some people who say, oh, this may create panic. No, it’s better, actually, to anticipate something that may happen, because it has happened in our history many times, and prepare for it.”
Michel Demare, Chairman of the Board of AstraZeneca, joined the discussion, highlighting the insufficient allocation of funds by countries for pandemic preparedness.
He revealed that, on average, OECD countries spend only 3% of their health system budgets on prevention.
“In OECD countries, the average spend on prevention is 3 per cent of the budget of health systems,” he said, stressing the need for a shift towards more comprehensive preparation strategies.
The pandemic treaty
The WHO, recognizing the necessity for a coordinated global response, outlined plans in 2021 to establish a pandemic treaty serving as a blueprint for managing future outbreaks. Dr. Tedros emphasized the crucial role of this treaty in safeguarding the world from future pandemics. However, negotiations among member states over its terms have led to delays, prompting concerns about the ability to meet the deadline.
Assistance from AI
Amidst these challenges, Bill Gates proposed leveraging innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) to address resource shortages in underdeveloped countries.
Gates stressed the “imperative” need to increase aid to these nations, outlining three key areas for action
- greater generosity from those with more resources,
- focus on higher impact areas based on countries’ priorities
- increased innovation in critical sectors like healthcare and agriculture.
As the world grapples with the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Tedros urged nations to overcome narrow national interests in favor of a common global interest.
“This is a common global interest, and very narrow national interests should not get in the way.”
The urgency of the situation was underscored by the plea to convert these lessons into tangible actions, ensuring the world is adequately prepared for future health crises for the sake of current and future generations.