The world was not prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, which caused widespread fatalities and a societal shutdown for approximately two years. Some predict that there is a greater than 25% likelihood of another lethal virus causing a worldwide pandemic in the next ten years. That is why scientists aspire to be better equipped for the potential emergence of 'Disease X' in the future.
ITV News reported that experts around the world are working on safeguards, and the United Kingdom government's recent £65 million investment in a vaccine facility aims to combat this risk. The unidentified virus, labeled 'Disease X' by the World Health Organization (WHO), holds the potential to inflict severe global harm, and its menacing threat is intensifying.
What Is Disease X?
The rapid global spread of SARS-CoV-2 highlights the persistent risk posed by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. In another report, ITV News explains that "Disease X" is an unidentified potential pandemic caused by animal viruses that can infect humans and spread worldwide.
Dr. Jenny Harries, CEO of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), acknowledges that while the exact nature of Disease X cannot be known with 100% certainty, preparations can be made for certain virus families.
Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that Disease X is likely to be zoonotic, originating from animals, with a vast but constrained pool of potential sources. The WHO estimates there are 631,000 to 827,000 unknown viruses that could potentially infect humans.
The virus is anticipated to emerge from a tropical country with low- to middle-income levels, rich biodiversity, and undergoing human-induced changes in land use.
Porton Down: UK's Secretive Scientific Research Center
UKHSA has recently unveiled a new Strategic Plan outlining its approach to preparing for health threats, addressing current challenges, and enhancing health security capability.
Among its six strategic priorities over the next three years is the goal of improving health outcomes through vaccination, with a key focus on vaccine development and evaluation conducted within its laboratories.
Vaccines have been instrumental in safeguarding public health, saving countless lives globally, and preserving the functioning of public services and economies. Collaborative efforts span various scientific partnerships, such as WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), multinational pharmaceutical corporations, universities, and national public health agencies.
The agency assumes a central role in these partnerships, leveraging its extensive expertise across all phases of vaccine development. The establishment of the Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC) at Porton Down stands out as a significant contribution.
Porton Down is in the serene Wiltshire countryside near Salisbury, which is among the rare global facilities capable of researching highly dangerous viruses and bacteria
VDEC harnesses a unique combination of expertise and facilities, encompassing the safe handling of dangerous pathogens and robust quality systems, ensuring generated data's credibility with both national and international regulatory bodies. This initiative is poised to fortify the UK's vaccine readiness against major infectious disease threats in the future.
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