The probability of the emergence of “disease X” in the next five to ten years is extremely low, according to Nikolai Kryuchkov, PhD in medical sciences, immunologist. In a conversation with Lenta.ru, he spoke about the reality of the threat of a new dangerous disease emerging and spreading widely in the world.
dual-purpose. Bioengineering can make dangerous, highly pathogenic or highly contagious variants out of a wide range of infections, bacteria, viruses, and this is an unpredictable story. The probability of such events cannot be determined because there are active players who can do it. If we talk about natural mechanisms, it is unlikely that within the next five to 10 years [disease X will emerge], after all, this is a longer-term story,” he said.
The consequences of such an infection on a global scale could be dire. Therefore, efforts to develop appropriate technologies – monitoring, vaccine, drug, prophylactic – need to be developed, and they should also be focused on pathogens that are currently unknown to us
Nikolay Kryuchkov
Candidate of Medical Sciences, immunologist
