Disease X: Deadly illness could wipe out millions like Spanish flu – what you need to know

Disease X has been identified as the next global pandemic by researchers – but it doesn’t exist yet. Scientists are currently working to predict when the virus will emerge, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) warning last year conditions are perfect. Fears are circulating the illness evolves from a mutated form of influenza and healthy people could be most at risk.

Dr Jonathan Quick, chair of the Global Health Council, has said: “Our greatest fear is being blindsided by a new virus, most likely due to animal-human spillover, which then readily spreads from human to human, has at least a five to 10 per cent fatality rate, does not respond to existing medicines, and for which an effective vaccine and accurate diagnostic test cannot rapidly be developed.”

Flu is an airborne illness which can mutate quickly, with some strains able to pass between species, such as bird flu.

The prediction stated by Dr Quick could mean Disease X will be more fatal than Spanish flu.

The Spanish flu pandemic began in 1918 and infected 500 million people around the world.

It also resulted in the deaths of 50 to 100 million people, which equates to three to five per cent of the world’s population.

A study titled ‘Pandemic Versus Epidemic Influenza Mortality: a pattern of changing age distribution’ claims the highest numbers of fatalities were unusually seen in people under the age of 65.

Conclusions were drawn the stronger the immune system, the more vulnerable it actually was to Spanish Flu.

Another theory is older generations, but the time the Spanish Flu emerged, built up more resistance to influenza infections through exposure to other strains, and as such, were better protected than younger generations.

John-Arne Rotting, WHO science advisor, said: “History tells us that it is likely the next big outbreak will be something we have not seen before.

“The point is to make sure we prepare and plan flexibly in terms of vaccines and diagnostics tests.”

Last year, one of the strains of flu which circulated the UK was H3N2 – dubbed Aussie flu.

Britain was hit hard by Aussie flu, with symptoms described as being the same as normal flu but worse.

But the H3N2 was a strain which has been dealt with before, and while it had the potential to be fatal to those at risk, such as young children and the elderly, it had no where near the impact Spanish flu and Disease X could have.

Symptoms of ordinary flu

These can come on quickly, according to the NHS, and can include:

  • A sudden fever – a temperature of 38C or above
  • A sudden aching body
  • Feeling tired or exhausted
  • A dry cough
  • A sore throat
  • A headache
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Loss of appetite
  • Diarrhoea or tummy pain
  • Nausea and being sick

Flu can often be treated without seeing your GP, and you should expect to feel better in about a week.

If you develop sudden chest pain, have difficulty breathing or start coughing up blood you should call 999 or go to A&E.

source: express.co.uk