What is Disease X?

Disease X:

Why in news? The recent outbreak reported in the first week of December 2024 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has claimed over 400 lives and remains unclassified, has raised concerns that it could be an instance of Disease X.

 What is Disease X?

• Disease X is a hypothetical term introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018 to represent an unknown pathogen that could cause a devastating epidemic or pandemic.
• It is not a specific disease but a concept emphasizing the potential emergence of a novel, unpredictable pathogen with severe global health implications. The goal of the concept is to prompt proactive planning and preparedness for such scenarios.