Two viruses that pose the greatest risk of ‘next pandemic’ identified – as 22 other bugs on UKHSA watch list
FLU and coronaviruses have been named as top pandemic threats by UK health officials as they confirmed the first case of bird flu in a sheep.
It comes five years on from the first Covid lockdown, announced on March 23, 2020.
The infected ewe in Yorkshire is the first case of its kind globally and proof the bug can spread to a new species of mammals.
The UK Healthy Security Agency called for more research and preparations for 24 “priority pathogens”.
Orthomyxoviruses, including flu, and coronaviruses were marked for having “high” pandemic potential along with picornaviruses, such as polio, and paramyxoviruses like measles.
Health officials were criticised in the Covid crisis because they had wrongly prepared for a flu pandemic.
Memories are short but it is vital we keep preparedness alive and well
Professor Mark Woolhouse
The new list includes 16 virus families and eight bacterial families, equalling dozens of bugs in total.
Dr Isabel Oliver, chief scientific officer at the UKHSA, said: “We haven’t ranked them because the situation is constantly evolving.
“We are concerned about a range of pathogens – there are a wide range of threats that could cause the next pandemic or epidemic.
“We hope this will help to speed up vaccine and diagnostics development where it is most needed, to ensure we are fully prepared in our fight against potentially deadly pathogens.”
One expert criticised the list, which runs to dozens of viral and bacterial infections, for being over-cautious.
Prof Robert Read, from the University of Southampton, said: “This list is pointless because the list of viruses is so long that it’s tricky to name a significant viral pathogen that has not been included.”
Bird flu could jump to people
Bird flu is a particular concern for scientists as outbreaks have been ongoing in animals for years.
There have been cases in humans – including seven in the UK – but there is not yet any proof of the virus spreading between people.
It could have pandemic potential if it evolves to be able to do so.
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the sheep case in Yorkshire was picked up in routine testing and only affected one member of the flock.
Professor Mark Woolhouse, of Edinburgh University, said: “Memories are short but it is absolutely vital that scientists and the public health agencies and the machinery of government are still thinking about it and still keeping the preparedness alive and well.”
THE 24 'PRIORITY PATHOGENS'
THE UK Health Security Agency has issued a list of the 24 viruses and bacteria that its experts believe pose the biggest threat to people in the UK.
Each one is a scientific family, meaning it is an umbrella term that includes and number of more specific – and usually better known – infections.
VIRUSES
- Adenoviruses (mostly cause the common cold)
- Arenaviruses (e.g. Lassa fever)
- Calciviruses (e.g. norovirus)
- Coronaviruses (e.g. Covid-19)
- Filoviruses (e.g. Ebola, Marburg, Sudan virus)
- Flaviviruses (e.g. dengue, zika, hepatitis C)
- Hantaviruses (can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome)
- Nairoviruses (e.g. Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever)
- Orthomyxoviruses (e.g. flu)
- Paramyxoviruses (e.g. Nipah virus)
- Peribunyaviruses (e.g. oropouche fever)
- Phenuviruses (e.g. Rift Valley fever)
- Picornaviruses (e.g. polio)
- Pneumoviruses (e.g. human metapneumovirus/hMPV)
- Poxviruses (e.g. mpox)
- Togaviruses (e.g. Chikungunya)
BACTERIA
- Bacillaceae (e.g. anthrax)
- Coxiellaceae (e.g. Q fever)
- Enterobacteria (e.g. plague)
- Francisellacae (e.g. tularaemia)
- Moraxellaceae (can cause pneumonia and UTIs)
- Neisseriaceae (e.g. gonorrhoea)
- Staphylococcaceae (cause cellulitis, pneumonia)
- Streptococcaceae (cause meningitis, scarlet fever, septicaemia)