A list of pathogens that pose the greatest risk to public health has been published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in an effort to focus preparedness against them.
There are 24 pathogen families in the list that need increased vaccine or diagnostic development, or those that may be exacerbated by a changing climate or antimicrobial resistance, the UKHSA said.
The list includes pathogens with a high pandemic potential, such as non-seasonal influenza and the coronaviridae viral family, which includes Covid-19, and those with a high epidemic potential, such as norovirus, Ebola and Zika virus.
However, it stressed that the list was not a detailed threat assessment, nor is it an exhaustive list.
‘Priorities and risks will change with updates in epidemiology and progress will be made with the development of diagnostics and countermeasures. Therefore, the tool, which is intended to be updated annually, must be used with other information as appropriate, and represents a snapshot at one point in time,’ it said.
Dr Isabel Oliver, chief scientific officer for UKHSA, said: ‘This tool is a vital guide for industry and academia, highlighting where scientific research can be targeted to boost UK preparedness against health threats.
‘We are using the tool as part of our conversations with the scientific community, to help ensure that investment is focused to where it can have the biggest impact.
‘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.’
It comes as clade la and lb mpox has been downgraded from a high consequence infectious disease in the UK.
A review by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens found that clade I mpox no longer meets the criteria as a high consequence infectious disease, which is defined as having a high mortality rate and a lack of available interventions.
However, this should not be interpreted as meaning the infection does not have ‘public health consequence’, the UK Health Security Agency said. It remains a public health emergency of international concern and is an urgent notifiable disease.
The NHS national booking system for Covid-19 spring vaccinations has also opened today for 7.5 million eligible patients.
Starting from 1 April, the campaign includes adults aged 75 and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and people with a weakened immune system who are at a greater risk from severe illness.
The NHS faced high levels of flu and norovirus this winter, with several systems declaring critical incidents in January.
In December, it was announced that a diagnostic accelerator would be launched to strengthen the UK’s pandemic preparedness and response.
The Covid-19 inquiry also heard in January that a national pandemic response exercise would be held in autumn, to test the UK’s plans, protocols and procedures in the event of another major pandemic.
