The hypothetical outbreak, which has been nicknamed ‘Disease X’ by the World Health Organisation (WHO), could erupt unexpectedly, scientists has warned. Experts believe it could wipe out large swathes of the population, with previous research from the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) warning it could kill 80 million people in just 36 hours. Now, experts have again called for more to be done to prevent the what now seems inevitable pandemic.
The Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has urged world leaders to invest more in Disease X research or face global catastrophe.
CEPI CEO Richard Hatchett said: “We can be sure that another epidemic is on the horizon.
“It is not a case of if, but when. We need to be prepared. We need to invest in platform technologies that can be used to quickly respond to the emergence of a pathogen with epidemic potential.
“That’s why CEPI is boosting its funding for such platform technologies that can be used to make vaccines and other immunoprophylactics in a matter of weeks and months, instead of years, which is currently the case.”
CEPI again pointed to the GPMG research, which found that five percent of the global economy could be wiped out in less than 48 hours if a major pandemic were to break out.
As such, CEPI is calling for submissions of ideas from researchers across the globe to create a world-wide battle against the potential outbreak.
Mr Hatchett said: “Our criteria are broad, and the call is open for 12 months, in the hope that we’re able to attract the best and brightest ideas from around the world.
“If we succeed in this endeavour, we will be able to equip humanity with the tools to combat Disease X and create a world in which epidemics are no longer a threat.”
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“Bacteria, not humans or animals, become antibiotic-resistant. These bacteria may infect humans and animals, and the infections they cause are harder to treat than those caused by non-resistant bacteria.”
Such is the worry around antibiotic superbugs that experts believe that they will claim 10 million lives by 2050, with 700,000 people dying a year after catching the infections, according to a recent report from the American Chemical Society’s Environmental Science and Technology Journal.
