The World Economic Forum in Davos discussed Disease X. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus joined health officials. Disease X includes Covid-19 caused by a novel coronavirus. Wildlife reservoir of viruses can cause infections with no immunity. The 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic prompted the R&D Blueprint. CEPI supports rapid response vaccine platforms. As the WHO puts it, it’s to “enable early cross-cutting R&D preparedness that is also relevant” for an unknown disease. The humanitarian crisis sparked by the 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa was a wake up call.
Source: Times of India/TOI