End of mankind? Global pandemic warning as WHO discovers new killer pathogen with no cure

www.express.co.uk - WHO medics understand so little about the deadly pathogen they have named it Disease X – but they are so worried they have added it to a shortlist of extremely deadly illnesses capable of wiping out humanity.

Despite not being identified as a specific disease, the pathogen has been classed as extremely dangerous.

Disease X now ranks alongside other listed illnesses like Lassa fever and Ebola which killed more than 11,000 people in Africa between 2013 and 2016.

The WHO warned: “Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease.”

John-Arne Rottingen, chief executive of the Research Council of Norway and a scientific adviser to the WHO committee, added: “History tells us that it is likely the next big outbreak will be something we have not seen before.

“It may seem strange to be adding an 'X' but the point is make sure we prepare and plan flexibly in terms of vaccines and diagnostic tests.”

Mr Rottingen explained Disease X could spark an epidemic if it was passed from animals to humans like HIV, which jumped from chimpanzees to humans claiming the lives of 35million people since the 1980s.

He said animal-human illnesses were called “zoonotic diseases” and become an epidemic when they happen and added: ”It is vital that we are aware and prepare.”

“It is probably the greatest risk.”

Lassa fever killed 1,081 people and was linked to more than 70 deaths in Nigeria.

The deadly fever also spread to Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Bleeding through the nose, mouth and other parts of the body is a symptom of the horrific illness and is spread through rat faeces and urine.

Tom Frieden, a former leading disease control director in the US, said: “We don’t know where the next threat will come from.

“But we are certain there will be a next time.”