The global Covid-19 outbreak resulted in around 1.2 million deaths, and experts are concerned that it may just be a precursor to more severe pandemics in the future. Although the worst of the Covid-19 crisis has passed, a new variant has emerged in the UK recently, indicating that the threat is still present.
Experts are warning that another potentially more dangerous virus is looming on the horizon. Dr. Chris Van Tulleken created a documentary for the BBC titled “Disease X: Hunting the Next Pandemic” to shed light on the origins of potential deadly pandemics and the preventive measures being taken.
Dr. Van Tulleken participated in daily meetings at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, where reports from experts in various regions highlighted local disease outbreaks with the potential for widespread devastation. Some outbreaks, such as Avian Flu in Vietnam, have shown alarming mortality rates despite a relatively small number of confirmed cases.
The WHO has identified several concerning diseases, including Ebola, Marburg, various coronaviruses, and the enigmatic Disease X, which was coined in 2018 to describe an unidentified pathogen capable of triggering a global pandemic. Dr. Harris emphasized that while Covid-19 was initially a Disease X, there are other unknown diseases currently being monitored with no established treatment or containment strategies, like the Henipavirus.
The ease of global travel poses a significant challenge in containing potentially deadly pandemics, as outbreaks can quickly spread internationally before effective responses are implemented. Dr. Harris cautioned that the next Disease X could originate from anywhere and result in catastrophic casualties surpassing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition to viruses, bacterial and fungal infections also pose threats to humanity’s well-being. Dr. Van Tulleken highlighted the increasing risk of diseases crossing over from livestock to humans, citing past incidents like the Henipavirus outbreak in Malaysia that devastated a village in the 1990s.
Recent studies have detected elements of the Henipavirus in Australian bats, raising concerns about potential airborne transmission. Meanwhile, the H5N1 Bird flu, which has affected livestock in Texas, poses a looming threat with the possibility of mutating into a highly lethal and contagious strain.
The WHO experts remain vigilant, monitoring emerging risks daily in hopes of providing timely warnings to prevent potential pandemics. “Disease X: Hunting the Next Pandemic” was broadcast on BBC Two and is accessible on iPlayer.