World Leaders Discuss 'Disease X' at Davos Forum

The World Health Organization and other health organizations prepare for potential future pandemics by developing countermeasures for unknown infectious threats.

World leaders and health officials are discussing 'Disease X' at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. 'Disease X' is a placeholder name for a future disease with pandemic potential.
The World Health Organization (WHO) added 'Disease X' to its list of priority pathogens for research in 2017, aiming to encourage the development of medical countermeasures for unknown infectious threats.
Despite no specific disease being identified as 'Disease X', the WHO and other health organizations are preparing for its potential emergence by developing rapid response vaccine platforms and other tools.
COVID-19 was an example of a 'Disease X' when it first emerged, highlighting the importance of preparedness for unknown diseases.
Conspiracy theories and misinformation about 'Disease X' have been circulating online, but experts emphasize that 'Disease X' is a theoretical concept used for pandemic preparedness, not a specific imminent threat.