No need to be too worried about 'Disease X' - Health Ministry

 

The Health Ministry assures that it is prepared to tackle the next pandemic, even if it arises from an as-yet-unidentified threat.

“Although the possibility of Disease X should be given attention, excessive anxiety should be avoided.

“Members of the public are always advised to follow health guidelines, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and always get the latest information on the disease,” said health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, in response to increased public interest in the term.

Disease X is not a real disease. Instead, it is a placeholder name for a hypothetical future disease that could cause a public health emergency.

Since the 2000s, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been working to improve countries’ ability to tackle large disease outbreaks, following outbreaks of diseases like SARS and swine flu.

In 2018, it came up with a shortlist that included diseases such as SARS, Nipah virus, Zika virus, Lassa fever, and Ebola. The WHO said these diseases have the potential to cause a future epidemic for which there are insufficient countermeasures and should thus be prioritised for research.

The list also coined the term “Disease X”, which it said “represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease”.

The inclusion of Disease X on the list is to ensure its epidemic response plans are flexible enough to tackle as-yet-unknown threats. The list has since been revised to include Covid-19 along with other diseases.

Many potential sources

Radzi said there are many potential sources from which Disease X could emerge, including the possibility of animal-to-human disease transmission.

Health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan

The potential rate of its spread is also growing alongside increased contact between humans and animals, in addition to increased ease of international travel.

To prepare for the possibility of the disease’s emergence, the director-general said the WHO has called for comprehensive pandemic planning, expansive vaccination campaigns, and special funding for pandemic preparedness.

It has also called for continuous monitoring, proactive actions, rational use of antibiotics, control measures, and international cooperation.

He also emphasises the ‘One Health’ concept - the notion that the health of humans, animals, and the environment are linked - and the importance of individuals adopting healthy lifestyles.

“The ministry is always prepared and on alert for the possible emergence of Disease X, based on past experience tackling diseases like Covid-19, the Nipah virus, and MERS-CoV.

“The national healthcare system is constantly being enhanced as preparation to face any health threats that may emerge,” he added.