Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan. -Bernama filepic
PETALING JAYA: Although there is a possibility of the emergence of Disease X in the country, excessive anxiety must be avoided, says the Health Ministry.
Its director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said the country’s health system is constantly being strengthened in preparation for any health threats.
The ministry is on alert over Disease X, he said, and is drawing on its experience in dealing with past outbreaks such as Covid-19, Nipah virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
“People are advised to follow health guidelines, adopt good health practices and always get the latest information about the development of this disease,” he said in a statement yesterday.
To strengthen preparedness against Disease X, he advised the public to practise a healthy lifestyle, such as exercising, having a healthy body weight and avoiding risk factors such as smoking.
Disease X is the name coined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018 for an unknown pathogen with the potential to cause a worldwide epidemic.
Although the nature and timing of Disease X have yet to be determined, it is reported that health experts have voiced concerns about the impact of the disease.
Compared with Covid-19, which causes fewer deaths, Disease X is expected to spread more easily, akin to measles, and may be life-threatening like Ebola, Dr Muhammad Radzi said.
Transmission of Disease X can originate from various sources, including zoonosis, an infectious disease that is transmitted between species from animals to humans.
Dr Muhammad Radzi also said the rate of the spread of Disease X would increase along with increased human-animal contact and cross-border movements by people.
The emergence of diseases such as SARS, MERS, Ebola and Covid-19 over the past three decades has brought a constant threat to the health and economy of the world.
Meanwhile, factors such as climate change, ecosystems and urbanisation have exacerbated the risks of future epidemics.
“To overcome this threat, the WHO emphasised the importance of a transparent scientific process in researching the origin of the virus,” Dr Muhammad Radzi said.
As for preparedness to face the disease, he said a comprehensive pandemic plan, expansion of the vaccination campaign and special pandemic allocations as recommended by the WHO are important.
“The same goes for continuous monitoring, proactive actions, rational use of antibiotics, control measures and international cooperation,” he said.
Dr Muhammad Radzi added that the “One Health” approach, emphasising the relationship between people, animals and environmental health, is important to strengthen collaboration between various disciplines.
