WHO to list pathogens that could cause pandemics in future: Report

In an official statement, the WHO also said that these pathogens can guide global investment in research and development (R&D), especially in vaccines, tests and treatments.

With a meeting scheduled for November 18, WHO is convening more than 300 scientists, who will consider the evidence on ‘Disease X’, along with more than 25 virus families and bacteria, the statement read.

It added that experts will recommend a list of primary pathogens that require further research. The process will involve both scientific and public health criteria, reports ANI.

The current list, which was published in 2017, includes COVID-19, Crimean-Congress hemorrhagic fever, Ebola virus disease, Marburg virus disease, Lassa fever, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Nipah is included. and henipaviral diseases, Rift Valley fever, Zika and disease X.

“A rapid and effective response to pandemics and pandemics requires research and development targeting primary pathogens and virus families,” said Dr. Michael Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Program. Without significant R&D investment first, it would not have been possible to develop safe and effective vaccines in record time.”

“This list of priority pathogens has become a reference point for the research community on where to focus energy to manage the next threat,” Dr Soumya Swaminathan, WHO’s chief scientist, was quoted as saying by ANI.

“It has been developed in collaboration with experts in the field, and agreed where we – as a global research community – need to invest energy and money to develop tests, treatments and vaccines,” he said. direction. We thank our donors like the US government, our partners and the scientists who work with WHO to make this possible.”

(With ANI inputs)