Mains Value Addition
What is Disease X? In the first week of December 2024, an outbreak in the
Democratic Republic of Congo killed over 400 people.
This has revived concerns about the potential threat of "Disease X."
Disease X refers to a
hypothetical, undiscovered pathogen that could cause a global health crisis.
The pathogens behind Disease X could be
viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, or prions.
Forecasting the next Disease X is daunting, as its emergence depends on numerous unpredictable factors.
Climate change is also reshaping disease transmission dynamics.