What is Disease X?
Disease X. A title dripping in mystery, the name itself an enigma. After all, It sounds more grounded in science fiction than reality, but what it represents for the future of the medical world is of vital importance. So what is Disease X? The World Health Organization describes Disease X “as the representation of knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease” 1. In short, it represents the potential threat of a future epidemic. It does not specifically refer to any current diseases but is instead listed alongside COVID-19, Zika, and Ebola as the next predicted crisis. It’s impossible to predict from what or where the next inevitable deadly disease will surface, but the key is to be proactive, not reactive. With these revelations, comes an urgency for preparation.