The number of diseases potentially responsible for the next pandemic has risen to 30, a concerning development. The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its list of “priority pathogens” to include the influenza A virus, dengue virus, and monkeypox virus. This list is designed to guide research and development efforts for treatments, vaccines, and diagnostic tools.
The list was created based on data indicating that these infections are highly contagious and virulent, with no current effective therapies. Ana Maria Henao Restrepo, head of the WHO’s R&D Blueprint for Epidemics, emphasized that the prioritization process is crucial for identifying urgent knowledge gaps that need addressing.
Neelika Malavige, an immunologist from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Colombo, Sri Lanka, who contributed to the update, highlighted the importance of revisiting the list amidst global uncertainties. Over the past two years, more than 200 experts evaluated 1,652 disease species, primarily viruses and some bacteria, to identify 30 priority diseases. This includes Merbecovirus, which encompasses the virus responsible for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic.
The updated list also includes the monkeypox virus, which caused a global outbreak in 2022, and the variola virus, the agent of smallpox, which despite its eradication in 1980, remains a concern as populations are no longer vaccinated against it. Malavige warned that this virus could potentially be used as a biological weapon.
Additionally, the list features six influenza A viruses, including H5, which led to an outbreak in cattle in the United States. The list also includes two infections that spread from person to person. Scientists have noted that rapid urbanization and climate change may increase the likelihood of these viruses spreading widely.
