What is Disease X and why the world should prepare for it

The outbreak reported in the first week of December 2024 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has already claimed more than 400 lives and is yet to be classified, has sparked concerns that it might be an example of Disease X.

What is Disease X?

Definition: Disease X is a hypothetical term coined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018 to represent an unknown pathogen that could potentially cause a global epidemic or pandemic.

Conceptual Origin: The term was created in the aftermath of the Ebola epidemic (2014-2016) to emphasize the need for preparedness against unpredictable infectious diseases.

Nature of Disease X: It serves as a placeholder for both “known unknowns” (threats we are aware of but do not fully understand) and “unknown unknowns” (threats we are not yet aware of). This acknowledges the likelihood of future pandemics without specifying their characteristics.

Potential Pathogens: Disease X could originate from a variety of sources, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, helminths, or prions.

Historical data indicates that about 70% of emerging infectious diseases have zoonotic origins, meaning they are transmitted from animals to humans.

Emerging Disease Patterns: The emergence of new diseases is often linked to ecological disruptions caused by human activities such as deforestation and urbanization, which increase contact between humans and wildlife.

Concerns Over Cess and Surcharges in India

Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, recently called the issue of the Centre’s increasing reliance on cesses and surcharges a “complicated issue.”

What are Cess and Surcharges?

Cess: A cess is a form of tax that is levied for a specific purpose. It is a tax on tax, imposed in addition to an existing tax like excise or income tax, and the revenue is earmarked for a particular use.

Cesses are typically charged for a specific time period, or until the government has gathered enough funds for the designated purpose.

The 80th Amendment formally amended Article 270, explicitly excluding cesses and surcharges from the divisible pool (revenue from cesses is not shared with states).

Cesses are recognized in the Constitution under Article 277 and Article 270 (which outlines the revenue-sharing framework between the Union and States).

Examples: Education Cess (for financing primary education), Swachh Bharat Cess (for cleanliness initiatives), and Fuel Cess (for road development).

Surcharge: A surcharge is an additional tax or levy imposed on existing duties or taxesSurcharges are often applied to individuals, companies, and other taxpayers who fall within income brackets. The rate of surcharge can vary based on income level.

They are designed to be progressive, ensuring that higher earners contribute more, promoting social equity and addressing income disparity.

Surcharge increases the total tax liability of individuals or entities who are already subject to tax, particularly higher-income earners or certain sectors.

The funds collected from surcharges go into the government’s general fund and can be used for a variety of purposes, such as financing infrastructure projects, social welfare programs, and other governmental activities.

13th and 14th Finance Commissions upheld exclusion of surcharges from the divisible pool; recommended reducing Centre’s reliance on these levies.

Cess vs. Surcharge: Cess and surcharge both go to the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) but differ in usage. Surcharge is spent like other taxes, while cess must be allocated separately and used only for its specific purpose.