WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a new warning about the potential outbreak of "Disease X" (X), telling world leaders that it is "a matter of time," not "if" the new pandemic will hit the world, indicating that the pandemic is inevitable.

"Disease X" does not yet exist; however, this name is used by the WHO to refer to some currently unknown infectious cases that could be capable of causing an epidemic or pandemic if they spread to multiple countries. Scientists say it could be 20 times more lethal than "COVID-19."

Ghebreyesus said before attendees at the World Government Summit in Dubai last week that he had given a similar warning in 2018 about the potential for a pandemic, and it was proven to be correct with the outbreak of the deadly "coronavirus."

He complained that the world is still unprepared to face a new pandemic and once again promoted the urgent need to reach and sign a global treaty for "preparedness and readiness for the next pandemic" by May. He described the treaty as a "critical mission for humanity," according to the US network "Fox News."

Ghebreyesus said in Dubai: "Today I stand before you in the aftermath of (COVID-19) with millions of people dead, and with social, economic, and political shocks that still resonate to this day." He added: "Despite some progress, such as improvements in the disease surveillance system, the epidemic fund, and capacity building in vaccine production... the world is not prepared to face the new epidemic."

The WHO Director emphasized that "the painful lessons we have learned are at risk of being forgotten, with attention shifting to the many other crises facing our world." He said if the world fails to learn those lessons, "we will pay a heavy price next time, and there will be a next time."

Ghebreyesus added: "History teaches us that the next pandemic is a matter of time... it may be caused by an influenza virus, a new coronavirus, a pathogen for a new disease we do not yet know about, or what we call Disease (X)."