UK Prioritizes 24 Infectious Diseases at Risk of Future Pandemics
The UK Health Security Agency has released a list of 24 infectious diseases, including bird flu and resistant bacteria, posing potential public health threats.
Overview
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified 24 infectious diseases that could threaten public health, including bird flu and drug-resistant bacteria, categorized based on their potential pandemic risks and the need for research investment. This proactive list aims to guide scientific efforts in vaccine and treatment development, emphasizing the dangers posed by emerging pathogens influenced by climate change. UKHSA officials stressed the importance of being vigilant about zoonotic diseases, which jump from animals to humans, and highlighted the low current risk to public health. Continuous updates will be made to adapt to evolving threats.
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Analysis
- The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has created a watch list of 24 infectious diseases that could pose significant future threats to public health, emphasizing the need for research and development of treatments, vaccines, and tests.
- Climate change is impacting the spread of certain diseases, such as avian flu and mosquito-borne illnesses, highlighting the importance of preparedness for changing patterns of disease transmission.
- Public health experts warn that ignoring the potential of novel infectious diseases, particularly those with high contagion rates like a measles-like virus, could result in more severe outbreaks than COVID-19.
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BBC News·3M·FAQ
The key viral pathogen families identified by UKHSA include Coronaviridae (e.g., COVID-19), Orthomyxoviridae (e.g., avian influenza), and Paramyxoviridae (e.g., Nipah virus).
Climate change is expected to enhance the spread of viruses and pathogens by altering environmental conditions, potentially increasing the risk of zoonotic diseases like bird flu recombining with human flu strains.
The UK is enhancing surveillance by expanding the list of notifiable diseases, which includes better reporting by medical professionals and laboratories to quickly respond to disease outbreaks.
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