Termed as ‘The known unknown’, Disease X is the next potential epidemic threat to the humankind, the World Health Organization warns the world.

The WHO is concerned about the fact that use of chemical warfare is on the rise and says deadly new diseases have recently been deliberately created through gene editing. Disease X is such potential outbreak of new epidemic threat according to the World Health Organization.

The organization further says, though no individual has been identified as affected by Disease X, man-made deceases are hard to be controlled hence the public should be prepared for worse.

During the recent meeting which was held in Geneva, the World Health Organization added Disease X into their Blueprint Disease list as the 9th decease that may cause a worldwide outbreak.

The rest of the deceases which are listed in this category are known fatal pandemics as Ebola, Lassa Fever, CCHF hemorrhagic fever, Nipah / Henipaviral, MESS, SARS and Zika.

The Blueprint list is maintained for the purpose of research and development where WHO has developed a special tool to determine which diseases require immediate attention on research and development. The diseases that pose a public health risk due to their epidemic potential and insufficient countermeasures are being added to the list.