The World Health Organization (WHO) secretary-general on Wednesday highlighted the importance of getting prepared for Disease X, expressing hope that countries will reach a pandemic agreement by this May to address this "common enemy." Saying that Disease X, an unknown disease, was used as a term for the first time in 2018, he noted that there are unknown things that may happen and anything happening is "a matter of when not if." "We should not face things unprepared, we can prepare for some unknown things as well," Ghebreyesus told a panel discussion titled "Preparing for Disease X." "Even communities can prepare for Disease X," said Ghebreyesus, adding public health, education, and communication should be at the center. Reminding that the deadline for the pandemic agreement is May 2024, Ghebreyesus said he hopes countries will reach this pandemic agreement by that time.

Source: The Nation January 18, 2024 09:32 UTC