Flu with HIV properties?

 There are more and more frequent discussions in the scientific world about the so-called "disease X", a hypothetical future pandemic for which the World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing. The head of WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus, during the Forum in Davos, drew attention to the need to prepare for the possibility of such a disease. According to experts, the greatest threat may be a virus that we do not currently treat as a serious threat.

Recent research and forecasts suggest that a future pandemic may be the result of a virus that has not yet been identified or is known but not considered a threat. According to experts, the potential candidate is a virus with a long incubation period, acting similarly to HIV, which remains undetectable for a long time, while being deadly.

Experts agree that the virus of a future pandemic must have several key features. First of all, it should be airborne, which makes it much easier to spread. Secondly, it must be characterized by a long asymptomatic period, during which the infected person unknowingly transmits the virus to others. This mechanism of action would increase its ability to spread on a large scale before detection and preventive action.

Bird flu is also among the potential candidates for "Disease X". However, due to the high mortality rate and difficulty in transmitting from person to person, this is less likely. On the other hand, viruses that do not currently pose a serious threat to humanity may be modified in laboratories and become the cause of a future pandemic.

One of the key issues is also the development of bioinformatics and genetic engineering, which can accelerate the evolution of viruses in the desired direction. Such actions could create a pathogen that is completely new to the human immune system and get out of control, starting a global pandemic.

The importance of this issue is also highlighted by the fact that many laboratories around the world have the capacity to conduct research on such pathogens. We can only hope that no one ordered such work, although suspicious debate on this topic may indicate that another pandemic is already ready and we are just waiting for it to start at an appropriate date.