Scientists put on alert for deadly new pathogen: 'Disease X'

[branfont]

The World Health Organisation [WHO] has put scientists and health workers around the globe on alert for a new and potentially deadly pathogen: Disease X.

 

Each year the Geneva-based organisation, which is charged with monitoring and safeguarding world health, convenes a high-level meeting of senior scientists to list diseases that pose a serious risk of sparking a major international public health emergency.

 

In previous years the list has been confined to known killers such as Lassa fever, which is currently sweeping Nigeria, and Ebola, which killed more than 11,000 people in an epidemic in West Africa between 2013 and 2016.

 

However, this year a ninth mystery pathogen has been added to the watch list for the first time. “These diseases pose major public health risks, and further research and development is needed, including surveillance and diagnostics”, said the WHO in a statement.  “Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full article @ The Telegraph

Edited March 20, 2018 by branfont

[Skiver Veteran]

The Zombie apocalypse is upon us?

[Som]

17 minutes ago, Skiver said:

The Zombie apocalypse is upon us?

i was thinking mutants

[Buttus]

so wait, there really is no 'disease X', it's just the idea that a new disease could be found?

[FloatingFatMan]

Sounds like more random scaremongering to me.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Quote

“Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease”.

Doesn't this translate to "we haven't found anything specific, but we want to be ready for when something does appear"?

 

I'll ask my housemate this evening.

[Jim K Global Moderator]

2 minutes ago, Buttus said:

so wait, there really is no 'disease X', it's just the idea that a new disease could be found?

Yea, that is what I've gathered from this. Seems odd.

[Draconian Guppy]

Man, wish I got paid for that sorta sillyness.

 

Hey all, next years disease is likely to be snowflaky-flu, better ball up

[DConnell Member]

 

38 minutes ago, Som said:

i was thinking mutants

In that case I hope I get teleportation, like Nightcrawler!

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

23 minutes ago, Draconian Guppy said:

Man, wish I got paid for that sorta sillyness.

 

Hey all, next years disease is likely to be snowflaky-flu, better ball up

Heck, we've got that going on outside right now!