Flu Virus May Spark Next Pandemic Before Disease X, Warn Scientists

Researchers have found that influenza is continuously evolving and mutating, leading to the possibility of a new pandemic. A study released by Cologne University’s Jon Salmanton-Garcia revealed that 57% of leading disease specialists predict that a strain of the flu virus will be the source of the next major infectious disease outbreak.

The findings of this international study will be presented at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Congress in Barcelona. Salmanton-Garcia explained that influenza outbreaks occur regularly and are akin to small pandemics.

While these outbreaks are usually controlled due to the strains not being virulent enough, there is no guarantee that this will always be the case. The study also indicated that 21% of experts consider an unknown virus, referred to as Disease X, to be the second most likely source of a pandemic after influenza.

Disease X is conceptualized as a potential virus similar to COVID-19, representing an unidentified microorganism that may emerge unexpectedly. The World Health Organization (WHO) has included Disease X in its list of unknown diseases alongside COVID-19, Ebola, Lassa fever, MERS, Nipah, and Zika, which have all caused widespread fatalities during outbreaks.

According to a WHO report from November 2022, Disease X signifies an unknown pathogen that could lead to a serious international epidemic. The report emphasizes the vast number of potential pathogens globally and the limited resources available for disease research and development (R&D).