In 2018, the WHO introduced Disease X to its list of blueprint priority diseases. This was a forward-thinking decision, acknowledging the limitations of our knowledge in the "microbial soup" of our environment. Disease X was not merely a theoretical construct but a recognition that an unknown pathogen could emerge and disrupt global health systems.

"Disease X" has now become a rude reminder of human fragility. The World Health Organization (WHO) coined this term in 2018. Disease X, an unknown pathogen, may trigger a global pandemic. Such a hypothetical but alarmingly real concept is calling out to the governments, researchers, and health organizations to be prepared for anything.

Fast-forward to December 2024 a mysterious disease swept through the Panzi district in the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing 48 people. Fever, fatigue, and respiratory distress were the presenting features. Dubbed Disease X by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak is an important lesson in early detection and swift response to unknown diseases. Subsequent analysis identified familiar pathogens and contributory factors, such as malnutrition and malaria.

What is Disease X?

Disease X is not attributed to any particular pathogen but is instead a placeholder for a future virus or bacteria with pandemic potential. Symptoms of Disease X are theoretical, but can be assumed as fever, respiratory distress, and gastrointestinal issues from previous outbreaks.

Possible Causes of Disease X

Zoonotic Spillovers: The transfer of pathogens from animals to humans, which is often worsened by deforestation and wildlife trade.

Antimicrobial Resistance: Overuse of antibiotics has led to the development of drug-resistant strains, which reduces the effectiveness of treatment.

Climate Change: Changing temperatures create conditions for new diseases to emerge and spread.

Globalization: Increased human mobility facilitates the rapid spread of pathogens across borders.

Historically, influenza and coronaviruses have proven their capability to cause a global health crisis. The recent swine flu pandemic in 2009 and the current outbreak of COVID-19 are good examples of unpredictable viral mutations and zoonotic transmission.

Past research into related pathogens has been extremely useful. For example, previous work on MERS and the coronavirus spike protein greatly expedited the production of COVID-19 vaccines. This underscores the need for proactive research into viral families with pandemic potential, including flaviviruses and coronaviruses.

Also Read: What Is COVID XEC Variant, The Strain That Is Spreading Fast In The West?

Preparing for the Unknowns of Disease X

The global response to Disease X must be multifaceted:

• Strengthening Surveillance Systems: Strong global monitoring networks will be able to detect outbreaks early, thus providing timely interventions.
• Investing in Flexible Vaccines: Advances in mRNA technology offer adaptable platforms for rapid vaccine development.
• Public Health Infrastructure: Building resilient healthcare systems capable of managing large-scale health crises.
• International Collaboration: Partnerships across nations can pool resources and expertise for effective responses.
• Public Awareness: Hygiene practices, vaccinations, and education are critical in mitigating disease spread.

Lessons from the Congo Outbreak

The outbreak in the Congo stands as a case study in working through the complexities of unknown diseases. While the area was very remote and presented a complex web of overlapping health issues, rapid deployment of health experts underscored the importance of preparedness, but also the gaps in infrastructure and logistical capabilities, which again underlined a need for much greater investment in global health systems.

Including Disease X in the WHO blueprint means shifting to proactionist health strategies. It's all about doing more work in researching prototype pathogens like flaviviruses and coronaviruses so as to prepare against the pandemics of the future. In a similar light, the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has been actively contributing, working to develop vaccines and therapies for major virus families and adapting to changes very fast once the threats surface.

Disease X is a cautionary tale, not a cause for panic. It is nature's unpredictability and the urgent need for preparedness. Governments, health organizations, and individuals must unite to strengthen surveillance systems, invest in research, and foster global cooperation.

As we move about in a world full of microbiological threats, the lessons of previous pandemics and foresight in initiatives like Disease X point the way to resilience. It simply depends upon the understanding that while we cannot predict anything in life, we can prepare for it.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized medical advice.

Prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness: world on fire. JCI. 2020

First list of top emerging diseases likely to cause major epidemics. WHO. 2015

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he is ready to make public the results of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan he underwent in October, a test that has prompted questions from political opponents and medical observers. The President also admitted he did not know which part of his body the imaging focused on.

While speaking to reporters aboard the flight back to Washington after a visit to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump addressed the matter of the medical report. The scan was conducted during his second physical examination of the year at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He said he had no objection to sharing the records and told the press, “If you want to have it released, I’ll release it.”

Trump MRI Raises Questions About Routine Testing

President Donald Trump said that he is ready to make public the results of an MRI scan he underwent in October. The White House has repeatedly maintained that his overall health remains strong. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said before that the 79-year-old president received “advanced imaging” as part of his “routine physical examination,” and that the full assessment showed he stayed in “exceptional physical health.”

Still, Trump’s own remarks brought an unexpected angle to the discussion. When asked what the scan was meant to check, he described the procedure as standard. He told reporters, “Getting an MRI is very standard. What, you think I shouldn’t have it? Other people get it. I had an MRI.” He added that the findings were “perfect,” and repeated his doctors’ comment that it was “the best result he has ever seen as a doctor.”

Although he spoke with confidence about the results, he could not explain what the scan was intended to examine. “I have no idea what they analyse, but whatever they analyse, they analysed it well and they said that I had as good a result as they’ve ever seen,” he said. He did make one point clear: “It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it.”

Trump MRI Disclosure Sparks Fresh Political Debate

News of the MRI has revived debate over Trump’s willingness to share information about his health, as MRIs are not usually part of a routine annual evaluation. They are generally recommended when doctors need to study issues involving the brain, spine, or heart. The October appointment at Walter Reed followed another physical only a few months earlier and came at a time when there were reports of chronic venous insufficiency, adding to scrutiny of his health status.

Trump MRI and His Known Medical Condition

Earlier this year, the White House confirmed that Trump has chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a vascular condition in which the veins in the legs have difficulty sending blood back to the heart. This problem can lead to swelling and discomfort.

On October 10, Trump returned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Leavitt described the visit as a “routine annual check-up,” although it was his second such trip in six months. Dr. Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, did not offer details on the imaging or preventive screenings done during the appointment. He did say that the President’s laboratory reports were “exceptional,” and that his cardiac profile suggested a biological age nearly 14 years younger than his actual one.

On October 27, Trump disclosed that he had undergone an unspecified MRI during an earlier visit to Walter Reed. He said the scan produced “some of the best reports for the age” and “some of the best reports they’ve ever seen,” but the absence of further explanation has added to questions regarding his health.

Trump has also spoken before about taking the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a screening tool used to detect cognitive decline. He has often described it as a “very difficult IQ test.” It is not clear if another MoCA was completed during the October visit or if he was referring to the ones taken in April 2025 or January 2018.

Delhi pollution continues to worse, while yesterday their was a brief respite when the air quality index (AQI) levels were reported under the 'poor' category, and the AQI dropped to 269 at 7am on November 30. However, today, on December 1, the AQI at several stations crossed 300.

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 325, ITO at 325, Rohini at 341, Bawana at 339, RK Puram at 336, Vivek Vihar at 321, Shadipur at 324, and Pusa at 322.

Children Are The Worst Victims Of Delhi Pollution

The toxic air in Delhi has spared no one, but the worst affected are children. On a recent weekday morning in Noida, a suburb near Delhi, BBC reported that at a crowded children’s clinic parents waited anxiously with little ones who were coughing, wheezing or struggling to breathe.

Most families said their children started falling sick in October, right when the capital’s air quality slipped into the hazardous range. This is a yearly pattern across northern India. A mix of slow winds, industrial fumes, vehicle emissions, dropping temperatures and the burning of crop residue creates a thick layer of pollution that settles over the region.

Since last month, Delhi’s Air Quality Index has mostly stayed between 300 and 400. These levels are over 20 times higher than what the World Health Organization (WHO) considers safe. Readings this high affect everyone, but young children and older adults are the most vulnerable.

Hospitals across the city have been overwhelmed with children suffering from pollution-related illnesses. Dr Shishir Bhatnagar, who heads the clinic in Noida, told BBC the number of cases has jumped sharply. He explained that young children are especially at risk because their immunity is still developing. He usually sees about 20 to 30 percent of cases linked to pollution, but that number doubles during the winter smog.

Although authorities often introduce emergency measures like halting construction or restricting vehicles, the situation has barely improved. Even an attempt at cloud seeding this year failed to bring relief, leaving millions worried about their families’ health.

For some parents, the fear is constant. BBC reports that Khushboo Bharti remembers rushing her one-year-old daughter to the hospital after a severe coughing fit left the baby vomiting and struggling to stay alert. The toddler later needed oxygen and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Other parents share similar worries, wondering whether the polluted air might cause lasting harm.

Research has repeatedly shown that prolonged exposure to polluted air can impair lung development, weaken immunity and even affect brain health. A recent study from the University of Cambridge linked certain pollutants to higher risks of dementia later in life.

While schools have postponed outdoor activities and moved younger classes online, these precautions mainly help families who have access to resources. For children living in crowded homes or near busy roads, the daily exposure is far worse. Doctors urge parents to keep children indoors when possible and use N95 masks, but many families find this unsustainable.

Parents say they feel helpless. They know children need space to play and fresh air to grow, yet every winter forces them to choose safety over normal childhood experiences.

How To Read AQI?

As per CPCB standards, here's how you can read AQI:

• 0 to 50 Good
• 51 to 100 Satisfactory
• 101 to 200 Moderate
• 201 to 300 Poor
• 301 to 400 Very Poor
• 401 to 500 Severe

Aids Day, a day that focuses on raising awareness on a disease that effects 40.8 million lives. In 2024 alone, 630,000 people died from AIDS-related deaths. What really is AIDS? It stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, which is an advanced stage of HIV, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. It damages the immune system so that the body is less able to fight infections and diseases.

Thus, every year, on December 1, World AIDS Day is observed to increase awareness on the same, provide support to people living with it and remember those who have lost their lives to the illness.

World Aids Day 2025: Theme

This year, the theme for Aids Day is "Rethink, Rebuild, and Rise".

The International AIDS Society (IAS) wants to create a simple message through the theme that it is important for everyone to connect and work against HIV. This is an urge to everyone from local activists to scientists, to governments, and to the global organization.

The world’s fight against HIV is entering a critical phase. Hard-won progress is under threat as political tensions grow and funding becomes uncertain. This year’s theme, “Rethink. Rebuild. Rise.” is a powerful reminder that the global community must stay united, resilient and forward-thinking to meet the challenges ahead.

Rethink calls for stronger, long-term financial planning. It urges countries to invest more of their own resources instead of relying mainly on international support.

Rebuild highlights the need to strengthen health systems, protect scientific research and support civil society groups. It also emphasizes grounding every decision in solid evidence and pushing back against misinformation.

Rise encourages the world to move ahead with a fully funded, people-centered strategy that safeguards past achievements and brings us closer to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Importance Of World Aids Day 2025

The United Nations notes that in 2025, funding crisis is threatening the progress made in the prevention of the illness. This is why this day is a reminder for more people to connect, initiate community services that are vital for the marginalized population who are often deprioritized while the rise in punitive law criminalizes same sex relationships, gender identity, and drug use that amplifies the crisis, and makes HIV-AIDS services inaccessible.

The global response to AIDS has been shaken in recent months, and much more work is needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of ending AIDS by 2030. The crisis is far from over, and in today’s challenging environment, a fresh, transformative strategy is essential to reduce risks and stay on track.

World Aids Day: Origin

The day was first observed in 1988 when the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations first launched it to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS, erase misconception, and build empathy for people living with AIDS. This day reminds people around the world that AIDS is not only a health problem but also a social and humanitarian issue for which everyone should work together.

Can You Prevent AIDS?

The prevention of AIDS starts from the restriction and complete stoppage of HIV. While there is no vaccine or permanent cure yet, there are ways to prevent AIDS:

• Practice Safe Sex
• Don't Share Needles
• Prevent Mother-to-child Transmission
• Ensure Safe Blood Transfusions