The World Health Organization, or WHO, is launching a global scientific process to update the list of priority pathogens to guide global investment, research and development, especially in vaccines, tests and treatments. Pathogens are agents that can cause outbreaks or pandemics.
Starting with a meeting held last Friday, the WHO is convening more than 300 scientists who will consider the evidence on more than 25 virus families and bacteria, as well as "Disease X." Disease X is included to indicate an unknown pathogen that could cause a serious international epidemic.
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April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.