The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has included " Disease X " on its list of diseases that may be the next global epidemic . Disease X represents the total number of unknown diseases in the world , rather than a particular disease . Emerging diseases such as flaccid myelitis ( AFM ) , which causes limb paralysis and has not been linked to a single disease organism , have demonstrated how new infections can perplex the medical world and how existing tests may be insufficient to tackle novel pathogens . Mostly , Disease X is a call to stay vigilant and aware to the outbreak of new , deadly outbreaks .
The World Health Organization (WHO) has included "Disease X" on its list of pathogens that could be the next global epidemic. Disease X represents the total number of unknown diseases in the world, rather than a particular illness. Emerging syndromes such as flaccid myelitis (AFM), which causes limb paralysis and has not been linked to a single disease organism, have demonstrated how new infections can perplex the medical world and how existing tests may be insufficient to tackle novel pathogens. Mostly, Disease X is a call to stay vigilant and aware to the prospect of new, deadly outbreaks.