Global health authorities are on the lookout after the identification of a new virus strain that has the potential of becoming a pandemic. The new virus has been initially called “Virus X” and was initially detected in a village in Southeast Asia, however, its presence has been confirmed in several other countries of the region. Although the incidence rate is not very high, due to the high contagiousness and the possibility of developing severe disease, the virus attracts increased attention of the international community.
The World Health Organization has called a meeting to discuss the development and plan an international response to the outbreak. Some of the first investigations into the nature of Virus X have indicated that it is a zoonotic agent, which may have evolved from bats to people. They found out that it has genetic relations to both the influenza and the coronavirus, making it a genetic hybrid that may have some of the worst features of both that make it very hard to contain not to mention to cure.
Some of the signs of Virus X are fever, breathing problems, and neurological symptoms. What is particularly concerning to the health officials is its capacity to transmit the virus even when the infected individual shows no symptoms, therefore, it is hard to track and contain cases before they result in spreading.
It is seen that governments across the globe are increasing surveillance measures and re-evaluating the plans for combating the pandemic threat. Some countries have stepped up the measures that would be taken at airports and the borders while others are debating on whether they should ban travel to the affected areas.
The academic and research institutions have quickly convened to understand the new virus and to find the cure and vaccine for it. Several pharma have declared their intentions to start work on vaccine candidates, as the technologies/platforms have been created during the COVID pandemic. But, professionals are quick to note that it may take as long as months or even years before an effective vaccine is developed, tested and disseminated if it is required.
Health authorities are now focusing on simple infection control measures including proper washing of hands, use of face masks in areas of high risk and maintaining social physical distance where necessary. Such measures that have been practiced during the recent pandemic episodes are viewed as useful measures that help to mitigate the rate of Virus X transmission while more research is being done on the virus.
The appearance of this new pathogen has revived the discussions on the preparedness of the world for the pandemics and the necessity of the early warning systems. The majority of specialists believe that based on the experience obtained during COVID-19, the world is still at risk of facing new disease threats. People are demanding more funding to be spent on monitoring diseases especially in regions that are at risk of getting hit by spillover events.
It has also revealed that there are discrepancies in the establishment of health systems and access to such equipment across the world. It has been feared that the low and middle-income countries might again be hit hard by the virus due to inability to contain, diagnose and treat the virus.
While people of the world are observing the situation with Virus X they are also remembering about the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessity to work together to fight such threats. The next couple of weeks and months will define whether this new threat can be contained or if the world is in for another long haul against a new pathogen.
Leave a Reply