DISINFO: The West is preparing a new pandemic to destroy the Russians
SUMMARY
Less than a week has passed since the end of the Davos Forum, during which, at one of its panels, directives to counter a new pandemic caused by the mysterious 'disease X, a pathogen that does not yet exist in nature, were announced. It appears that the threat is anticipated to originate from ancient times and, with a high degree of probability, is expected to be Russian; given the current geopolitical situation, where else could it plausibly come from?
The West can’t wait for the pathogen to “come to life”. It can be helped, studied and even “modernised” in advance. Importantly, it will move from Russia - the geopolitical enemy of the West, giving another reason for obstruction and castigation of Russia. In addition, the number of deaths from the new scourge already indicated by WHO should not be forgotten: 140 million people – approximately the same as the population of Russia.
RESPONSE
The claim is an attempt to advance the long-discredited pro-Kremlin narrative about US-funded biolabs with military purposes around the world, which has been debunked over and over again but pro-Kremlin outlets and Russian authorities continue promoting. Also this claim is repeating debunked Covid-19 conspiracy theories.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) convened a panel in January 2024 to discuss preparations for a hypothetical future pandemic referred to as Disease X. World Health Organisation (WHO) Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus underscored the significance of readiness for Disease X. He emphasised that enhancing disease surveillance, bolstering primary health care, and having the capacity for rapid expansion during a crisis are crucial lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that should be applied to Disease X.
This is why Mr. Ghebreyesus stressed at the WEF the necessity for countries to commit to the WHO's pandemic treaty by May 2024. Such a treaty would enable countries worldwide to more effectively pool resources and collaborate in preparation for a potential future pandemic.
Disease X represents a hypothetical threat. Since 2015, the WHO has adopted a comprehensive global research strategy and preparedness plan known as the WHO R&D Blueprint for Epidemics. A key component of this initiative is the WHO pathogen priority list, which ensures research efforts are focused on diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential where medical countermeasures are limited or nonexistent. Over 200 scientists from 53 countries independently assess the evidence related to 30 viral families, one core group of bacteria already known to humanity, and “Pathogen X”—an unidentified pathogen that could cause a severe global epidemic. The terms “Pathogen X” and “Disease X” are used among scientists to promote the development of countermeasures, including vaccines and diagnostic tests, that could be deployed in the event of a future outbreak.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that Pentagon report on biological threats is an excuse for offensive biolabs, that Russia presented evidence of US biolabs in Ukraine at the convention on biological weapons, that the Covid-19 pandemic development suggests its deliberate nature and US involvement, or that disease outbreaks in Ukraine are linked to the activity of US biolabs.