The World Economic Forum's annual meeting, to be held next week in Davos, Switzerland, is attracting more attention than usual this year, thanks to the name of one of its sessions.Prepare for disease X”
What is „Disease X“?
„disease X,” According to the World Health Organization“represents the knowledge that serious international epidemics can be caused by pathogens not currently known to cause human disease.”
In fact, the organization's head, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is scheduled to speak at the event, and board president Michel Desmarais is also expected to attend. AstraZenecaNicia Trindade Lima, Minister of Health of Brazil, Jamil Edmund Anderlini, Editor-in-Chief of Politico Europe, especially.
A run-of-the-mill pandemic prep session gets out of proportion later this week, with Twitter and Google in some cases.right-wing social media accounts smashed the sessioncharged that world leaders would meet to discuss plans to impose vaccine mandates, restrict free speech, and even plan for the pandemic itself.
On Thursday night, during the Trump administration, former assistant secretary of public affairs at the U.S. Treasury Department and Fox news analyst Monica Crowley tweeted Unsubstantiated warning that „unelected globalists at the World Election Forum will host a panel discussion on future pandemics 20 times more deadly than the coronavirus.“
“Just in time for elections, a new epidemic is spreading that will enable the implementation of the new WHO treaty, another lockdown, restrictions on free speech, and further destruction of freedoms,” she wrote. „Does that seem outlandish? What happened in 2020 was similar.“
Amish Adalja, Ph.D., a senior research fellow at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. luck Medical and public health experts „have always conducted thought experiments and tabletop exercises to prepare for a pandemic,“ he said.
“These exercises serve the important function of identifying strengths and weaknesses and highlight important aspects of the response that are worth further refinement,” he says.
“Arbitrarily suggesting that these exercises and meetings are part of some kind of conspiracy belies the actual purpose they serve, for the nihilistic purpose of undermining pandemic preparedness and brazen pandering. It avoids the issue they are trying to draw attention to,” he added.
„We're excited to announce that this is the first time we've been able to improve the quality of our data,“ said Dr. Stuart Ray, associate medical director for data integrity and analysis at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. luck He said it would be „irresponsible“ for world leaders not to gather at the forum.
„While there have been many such events throughout recorded history, the recent coronavirus pandemic has taught us that a quick response can save millions of lives,“ he said. “Coordinating the public health response is not a conspiracy, it is simply responsible planning.”
He said: „Such plans require oversight and should be made public as there is a need to be aware of their personal impact on personal and economic freedom and the impact on special populations.“ he added. “It makes sense for global public health organizations, scientific leaders and interested private citizens to be involved.”
WHO “Priority Pathogens” excluding “Disease X”
WHOpriority pathogen” are those that “pose the greatest public health risk because of the potential for epidemics and/or because available countermeasures are non-existent or inadequate.”
Last updated in 2018, list updates were scheduled last year and are currently scheduled for early 2024. According to the group.
This list is far from exhaustive and does not necessarily indicate the most likely cause of the next epidemic or pandemic, but in addition to „Disease The following are the pathogens:
Ebola hemorrhagic fever and Marburg virus infection
this family virus It causes a hemorrhagic or bloody fever, usually with bleeding from body orifices and/or internal organs. This family consists of five lineages. Ebora In addition to marburg— a very similar virus that made headlines during the outbreak. Outbreak in Equatorial Guinea earlier this year.
On average, Ebola kills about 50% of those who contract it, but the fatality rate ranges from 25% to 90%. According to WHO. Approximately 50% of those infected in Marburg also die, but the fatality rate ranges from approximately 24% to 88%. experts say.while it's still there two licensed vaccines Zaire, the deadliest Ebola strain, is absent from the other four strains. There is also no approved vaccine for Marburg disease, Some are under development.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
Like Ebola and Marburg disease, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease that causes bleeding from body orifices. The onset of symptoms is sudden and may include fever, muscle pain, dizziness, neck pain, back pain, headache, eye pain, and photosensitivity. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and sore throat may occur, followed by severe mood swings and confusion.
After 2 to 4 days, excitement may turn to drowsiness, depression, and weakness. Abdominal pain may be localized to the right upper quadrant.the liver may become enlarged According to WHO.
Other symptoms may include increased heart rate, swollen lymph nodes, and a petechial rash (caused by bleeding into the skin) on internal mucosal surfaces such as the mouth and throat and on the skin. The rash may become larger. Hepatitis is usually present. After his fifth day of illness, the patient may experience organ failure, including kidneys, liver, and lungs.
The mortality rate of this disease (spread by ticks and infected animal tissue during and after slaughter) is approximately 30%. Most patients who die do so within two weeks of onset of symptoms. For those who recover, symptoms usually begin to improve after the 9th or 10th day of onset.
Lassa fever
Like Ebola, Marburg hemorrhagic fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever. However, the fatality rate is much lower, with a fatality rate of 1%. The majority (80%) of people infected with Lassa fever have no symptoms.
The remaining 20% are seriously ill. Symptoms usually begin as follows: non-specific disease Similar to the new coronavirus and influenza, it starts with fever, weakness, and fatigue, and then progresses to headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, and stomach pain. In addition to shock, seizures, tremors, disorientation, and coma, facial swelling, fluid accumulation in the lung cavities, and low blood pressure may occur. Multiple organ systems are often injured. Survivors may suffer temporary or permanent hearing loss, along with temporary hair loss and lameness.
People who die from the virus usually do so within two weeks of becoming ill. According to WHO. 80% of infected pregnant women in late pregnancy die in addition to the fetus. Rodents carry the virus and also shed it in their urine and feces.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-1)
The world's first coronavirus pandemic Occurred in 2002, when SARS-CoV-1 was reported in China. By the time it was contained seven months later, it had spread to more than 20 countries in the Americas and Europe. SARS is thought to originate from animal populations; probably a bata tropical animal that looks like a civet before being taken over by the civet. dog and ocelot mix–And to the people. Experts say the spillover effect could occur again.
Symptoms include headache, body aches, mild respiratory symptoms, possible diarrhea and eventually a dry cough, and most often pneumonia. SARS sickened nearly 8,100 people from 2002 to 2003, and just under 10% of them died. Although there is no licensed vaccine for SARS, researchers are working to develop a universal coronavirus vaccine that would target both SARS and COVID, among other coronaviruses.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS)
SARS was the first killer coronavirus identified in the world, MERS was the second. Discovered in Saudi Arabia in 2012, Approximately 2,500 people infected and 800 deaths. SARS has not been detected since 2004, but MERS continues to be reported sporadically. Latest reportIt occurred in Saudi Arabia in August 2023, with 3 people infected and 2 deaths.
Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)
As Dr Maria van Kerkhove, head of WHO's emerging and zoonotic diseases division, stated at a press conference in January, the world Still in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, whether you want to recognize it or not. Until now, officially, Number of deaths due to new coronavirus 7 million, but it is thought to be at least three times higher.
The Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) status ended in May 2023, but the WHO committee can choose to reinstate this status at any time, especially in the event of a virus outbreak. Masu. evolved into a more severe form, according to Mr. Van Kerkhove. And it's quite possible.
“We are very concerned that this virus is spreading unchecked around the world and that variants could emerge at any time and cause severe illness.” she said on friday. “This is not intended as a scare tactic. the scenario we are planning”
Nipah and other henipaviral diseases
Nipah is a henipa virus. The most lethal of the paramyxoviruses. It was first identified in pigs in Malaysia and Singapore in the late 1980s, but its natural reservoir is the flying fox. Hendra, another henipavirus known to infect humans, was first identified in racehorses and humans in Australia in 1994. Both are characterized by respiratory illness and severe influenza-like symptoms that, along with other neurological symptoms and brain inflammation, can progress to encephalitis. death.
Nipah kills 45% to 75% of those infected. Although there is no approved vaccine, modernain collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Vaccine Research Center. being evaluated.
rift valley fever
This virus is known to cause extensive damage to livestock. It can be transmitted from animals to other animals and to humans, but transmission from humans to other humans is not yet known. However, as the virus evolves, that may change.
Infection in humans occurs through inoculation, such as through an infected knife wound or skin break. Humans can also be infected through aerosols produced during the slaughter of infected animals. Human infection may also occur by drinking unpasteurized or uncooked milk from infected animals. According to WHO. In addition, human infection can occur through the bite of an infected mosquito or blood-sucking fly.
Most infected people do not develop symptoms. Even in these cases, symptoms are mild. Symptoms include a sudden flu-like fever, muscle and joint pain, and headache. Neck stiffness, photosensitivity, loss of appetite, and vomiting may also occur. In such cases, it may be mistaken for meningitis.
Approximately 3% of cases develop severe disease and less than 1% die. The serious disease usually takes one of three forms: ophthalmitis, meningoencephalitis, or hemorrhagic hemorrhage.
zika virus
Like the coronavirus, microcephaly (a brain-related birth defect) associated with the Zika virus was also declared a PHEIC by the WHO between February and November 2016. Most people who become infected with this virus, which is primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, do not develop symptoms. Symptoms. People with these symptoms typically experience a rash, fever, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and headache for two to seven days.
Even more troubling, infection during pregnancy can cause premature birth and miscarriage, as well as infants with congenital malformations. It can also cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, neurological disorders, and myelitis in adults and children. According to WHO.