Breaking News

World Health Organization gets ready for 'Disease X'

By Susan Scutti, CNN

Updated 1627 GMT (0027 HKT) March 12, 2018

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

There were 216,000 global cases of leprosy, an ancient and disfiguring disease, in 2013.
Photos: 10 diseases you thought were gone
There were 216,000 global cases of leprosy, an ancient and disfiguring disease, in 2013.
Hide Caption
1 of 10
In the 19th century, scarlet fever was a common killer in Europe. In 2016, nearly 20,000 cases were reported in the United Kingdom -- the biggest increase in 50 years.<br /><br />Scarlet fever is just one disease that many have forgotten but that is by no means gone, despite our best efforts to eliminate it.
Photos: 10 diseases you thought were gone
In the 19th century, scarlet fever was a common killer in Europe. In 2016, nearly 20,000 cases were reported in the United Kingdom -- the biggest increase in 50 years.

Scarlet fever is just one disease that many have forgotten but that is by no means gone, despite our best efforts to eliminate it.
Hide Caption
2 of 10
Though it's often thought of as a medieval disease, the World Health Organization reports 1,000 to 3,000 global cases of plague every year. The US averages seven new human cases a year, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/plague/maps/index.html" target="_blank">mostly in the Southwest</a>. Pictured, a patient with gangrene and necrosis, caused by plague.<br />
Photos: 10 diseases you thought were gone
Though it's often thought of as a medieval disease, the World Health Organization reports 1,000 to 3,000 global cases of plague every year. The US averages seven new human cases a year, mostly in the Southwest. Pictured, a patient with gangrene and necrosis, caused by plague.
Hide Caption
3 of 10
This 19-year-old girl in Neijiang, China, is being carried in a basket because she has rickets. Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D, which we get from sunlight. Experts believe rickets is making a comeback in developed countries because of the use of sunscreen and less time spent outdoors.
Photos: 10 diseases you thought were gone
This 19-year-old girl in Neijiang, China, is being carried in a basket because she has rickets. Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D, which we get from sunlight. Experts believe rickets is making a comeback in developed countries because of the use of sunscreen and less time spent outdoors.
Hide Caption
4 of 10
Gout was once known as the "disease of kings" because of its links to excessive food and alcohol consumption. These days, unhealthy lifestyles are behind an increase in gout in developed countries.
Photos: 10 diseases you thought were gone
Gout was once known as the "disease of kings" because of its links to excessive food and alcohol consumption. These days, unhealthy lifestyles are behind an increase in gout in developed countries.
Hide Caption
5 of 10
The deadly disease diphtheria affects the nose and throat. Vaccinations mean it is now rare in developed countries, but in 2011, nearly 5,000 cases were reported to the WHO, with many more probably unreported.<br />
Photos: 10 diseases you thought were gone
The deadly disease diphtheria affects the nose and throat. Vaccinations mean it is now rare in developed countries, but in 2011, nearly 5,000 cases were reported to the WHO, with many more probably unreported.
Hide Caption
6 of 10
Although there is a pertussis vaccine, there were an <a href="http://www.who.int/immunization/topics/pertussis/en/" target="_blank">estimated 16 million global cases</a> of whooping cough in 2008, killing about 195,000 children.
Photos: 10 diseases you thought were gone
Although there is a pertussis vaccine, there were an estimated 16 million global cases of whooping cough in 2008, killing about 195,000 children.
Hide Caption
7 of 10