(NEXSTAR) — As world leaders prepare to discuss preparedness for a hypothetical virus known as “Disease X” at this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, conspiracy theories are circulating online. It's spreading.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus joined other health officials on Wednesday to discuss how to prepare for the next pandemic, which is feared to be more deadly than COVID-19. We are planning to host a seminar on this topic.
a Event description “Preparing health systems for multiple challenges ahead, following new warning from the World Health Organization that an unknown ‘Disease X’ could cause 20 times more deaths than the coronavirus pandemic” What new initiatives are needed?”
News of the seminar caused an uproar on social media. Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) ranting about the so-called “new virus release.”
“It's very rare that a new disease is discovered. So when you hear 'disease X,' it means a synthetic virus made in a lab.” Jones said in the video.which has received over 860,000 views.
To be clear, “Disease X” is not actually a disease, at least not yet. This is an alternative name for an unknown virus that may infect humans in the future. The World Economic Forum pointed out that the “X” stands for “unexpected.”
of WHO explains more on its website“'Disease X' represents the knowledge that serious international epidemics can be caused by pathogens not currently known to cause disease in humans.”
The agency added the term to its list of priority diseases in 2018. This list is WHO research and development programThe plan aims to “ensure rapid access to effective tests, vaccines, and medicines” that can save lives during a major health crisis.
Dr Michael Ryan, Director-General of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, said: 'Targeting priority pathogens and virus families for research and development of countermeasures is essential for rapid and effective epidemic and pandemic responses. ”. 2022 Press Release.
The WHO created the blueprint in the wake of the Ebola outbreak that killed more than 11,300 people in West Africa nearly a decade ago, according to the World Economic Forum.
“During the Ebola outbreak, WHO worked in partnership with many governments, public institutions, private organizations and scientists,” said Marie-Paul Chieny, former WHO Deputy Director-General. said before. “The result of that effort is the first fully effective vaccine against Ebola, developed and tested in 12 months, compared to the five to 10 years such a process typically takes.”
Other diseases on the list include, but are not limited to, coronavirus disease (COVID-19), SARS, Rift Valley fever, and Zika.
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