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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
Top leaders to discuss ‘Disease X’ at Davos Economic Forum Objective: prepare for the emergence of a potential pandemic. The point of view of Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of Doctissimo.
The main leaders of the planet have been meeting since yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. They are planning tomorrow, Wednesday January 17, a time of discussion dedicated to “disease X”, a term which designates a potential pandemic which could appear in the years to come. The objective is to prepare as best as possible.
What is “Disease X”?
“Disease X” is a pathology that is still unknown, but which could cause a pandemic in the more or less near future, with twenty times more deaths than Covid-19. Since 2018, it has been included in the list of priority diseases and pathogens for research and development established by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This list also contains known pathologies, such as the Ebola, Zika viruses, Crimean-Congo fever or Covid-19.
A session entitled “Preparing for Disease X”
The leaders of the planet, but also the CEOs of different pharmaceutical laboratories and some hospitals will be brought together with the head of the WHO, Tedros Adhannom Ghebreyesus, for a session entitled “Preparing for Disease X”.
They will therefore discuss the “necessary efforts to prepare the health systems of different countries for this potential catastrophe”. A question of great concern to the WHO, which recalls that “worldwide, the number of potential pathogens is very large, while resources for disease research and development (R&D) are limited“.
An unknown disease at the moment, which must be anticipated
In reality, no one knows what this disease will be and if it will ever appear. Some scientists believe it will be a new coronavirus or a new strain of flu.
Preparing to face the next pandemic and finding ways to prevent the collapse of national health infrastructures (as happened in many countries in 2020) has become a key objective for WHO.
For Dr Gérald Kierzek, this type of meeting allows you to anticipate things. “This disease X will perhaps occur following the mutation of a virus. But anticipating things doesn’t mean they’re going to happen.” he wants to emphasize. “It simply helps us to be better prepared to cope, when the time comes, and to adapt afterwards.“.
Slide: These nine viruses under WHO surveillance