Did Disease X emerge as a new pandemic? No, that's not true: The name "Disease X" refers to a theoretical virus that is currently unidentified, as designated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The term is used to refer to an infection with the potential of causing a new pandemic, in a hypothetical scenario, in order to discuss proactive measures in the face of a potential worldwide crisis, such as a new pandemic.
The claim appeared in a video (archived here) which was published on TikTok by @angelo...666 on January 21, 2024, with a caption, translated from Thai into English by Lead Stories staff, that reads:
Keeping up with Disease X
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri Feb 2 10:43:30 2024 UTC)
The TikTok urges people to stay informed about the latest pandemic developments and "Disease X." This claim has instigated widespread concern about the potential occurrence of a novel disease.
Misinformation about Disease X was shared on several social media platforms, like in this Facebook post (archived here). The post claimed that Disease X is a mysterious contagion discussed at a meeting at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on January 17, 2024, and stated that it "could have 20 times more fatalities than COVID." However, Disease X is not an actual disease and was only discussed as a hypothetical scenario during the World Economic Forum meeting (archived here).
Disease X is the designation given by scientists and the WHO to an unidentified pathogen that could emerge in the future. Both the WEF (archived here) and the WHO (archived here) continue to research such possible circumstances. They have developed scenarios to prepare for potential new pandemic situations that could arise. Scientists have proactively studied the approximately 25 viral families most prone to harbor a novel Disease X (archived here). Moreover, they have initiated the development of innovative medical defenses, including rapidly adaptable vaccines and treatments designed to counteract emerging viral diseases.
Furthermore, the WHO established the R & D (Research and Development) Blueprint (archived here) to investigate and prioritize diseases in public health emergency contexts. The list included COVID-19, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, Ebola virus disease, and Marburg virus disease. Notably, 'Disease X' is also included, representing the awareness that a severe international epidemic could arise from an unknown pathogen. The R&D Blueprint explicitly aims to facilitate early, comprehensive research and development preparedness applicable to a yet unidentified disease.
