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Riya Baibhawi

UK Releases List Of 24 Infectious Diseases That Could Pose Threat In Future

Health authorities in the UK have a new watch list of 24 <span>infectious diseases</span> that could pose the greatest future threat to public health. The list encompasses bird flu as well as mosquito-spread illnesses that may become common with rising temperatures from climate change. The list, which was curated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), does not include COVID-19.

The aim behind releasing this <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-highlights-pathogens-of-greatest-risk-to-public-health" data-type="tilCustomLink" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" rel= "noopener nofollow noreferrer" target= "_blank">list</a> is to steer researchers and health experts to invest in making more new tests and vaccines ot medicines in preparation. "This rating does not indicate which pathogen UKHSA considers most likely to cause the next pandemic, but rather those pathogens requiring increased scientific investment and study," UKHSA said in a statement. 

<h2>Diseases Are 'Highly Spreadable'</h2>

Measles, which is a part of the highly contagious virus family Paramyxoviridae, is on the list. According to Prof Woolhouse, a novel measles-like virus would be highly spreadable and "impossible to control by even the strictest lockdown", making it "a threat far worse than <span>Covid</span>." Another significantly dangerous enlisted disease is <span>Norovirus</span>, also known as winter vomiting bug, which is wreaking havoc in the UK. Q fever, which is a disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii, has also been marked as a potential health threat. 

<h2>Here's The List Of 24 Diseases </h2><ol><li>Adenovirus</li><li>Lassa fever</li><li>Norovirus</li><li>Mers</li><li>Ebola (and similar viruses, such as Marburg)</li><li>Flaviviridae (which includes dengue, Zika and hepatitis C)</li><li>Hantavirus</li><li>Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever</li><li>Flu (non-seasonal, including avian)</li><li>Nipah virus</li><li>Oropouche</li><li>Rift Valley fever</li><li>Acute flaccid myelitis</li><li>Human metapneumovirus (HMPV)</li><li>Mpox</li><li>Chikungunya</li><li>Anthrax</li><li>Q fever</li><li>Enterobacteriaceae (such as E. coli and Yersinia pestis, which causes plague)</li><li>Tularaemia</li><li>Moraxellaceae (which cause lung, urine and bloodstream infections)</li><li>Gonorrhoea</li><li>Staphlylococcus</li><li>Group A and B Strep</li></ol>"Among the pathogen families where UKHSA is keen to see greater scientific strides made are the coronaviridae family, which includes Covid-19; the paramyxoviridae family, which includes Nipah virus; and the orthomyxoviridae family, which includes avian influenza. However, the reference tool is not a detailed threat assessment, and the list of families included in this tool is not exhaustive and the families are not ranked," the agency warned.

<h2>COVID On Decline</h2>Besides this report, the UK health authorities also published 'The infectious diseases impacting England: 2025' report that marked a rise in both endemic disease and vaccine-preventable infections. "Infectious diseases were the primary reason for over 20% of hospital bed usage, at an annual cost of almost £6bn in 2023 to 2024. Developing scientific capability and effective interventions are having positive impacts, but more action is needed," it said. 

This report also mentioned that COVID-19 transmission has declined, with the virus circulating at baseline levels of activity for much of the current winter season. Incremental vaccine effectiveness was around 45% against hospitalisation, with vaccine uptake in older age groups at 60% to 70%. Vaccination of priority groups, in particular the elderly, remained an important intervention to protect against severe disease. 

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Health authorities in the UK have a new watch list of 24 infectious diseases that could pose the greatest future threat to public health. The list encompasses bird flu as well as mosquito-spread illnesses that may become common with rising temperatures from climate change. The list, which was curated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), does not include COVID-19.The aim behind releasing this list is to steer researchers and health experts to invest in making more new tests and vaccines ot medicines in preparation. "This rating does not indicate which pathogen UKHSA considers most likely to cause the next pandemic, but rather those pathogens requiring increased scientific investment and study," UKHSA said in a statement. Diseases Are 'Highly Spreadable'Measles, which is a part of the highly contagious virus family Paramyxoviridae, is on the list. According to Prof Woolhouse, a novel measles-like virus would be highly spreadable and "impossible to control by even the strictest lockdown", making it "a threat far worse than Covid." Another significantly dangerous enlisted disease is Norovirus, also known as winter vomiting bug, which is wreaking havoc in the UK. Q fever, which is a disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii, has also been marked as a potential health threat. Here's The List Of 24 Diseases AdenovirusLassa feverNorovirusMersEbola (and similar viruses, such as Marburg)Flaviviridae (which includes dengue, Zika and hepatitis C)HantavirusCrimean-Congo haemorrhagic feverFlu (non-seasonal, including avian)Nipah virusOropoucheRift Valley feverAcute flaccid myelitisHuman metapneumovirus (HMPV)MpoxChikungunyaAnthraxQ feverEnterobacteriaceae (such as E. coli and Yersinia pestis, which causes plague)TularaemiaMoraxellaceae (which cause lung, urine and bloodstream infections)GonorrhoeaStaphlylococcusGroup A and B Strep"Among the pathogen families where UKHSA is keen to see greater scientific strides made are the coronaviridae family, which includes Covid-19; the paramyxoviridae family, which includes Nipah virus; and the orthomyxoviridae family, which includes avian influenza. However, the reference tool is not a detailed threat assessment, and the list of families included in this tool is not exhaustive and the families are not ranked," the agency warned.COVID On DeclineBesides this report, the UK health authorities also published 'The infectious diseases impacting England: 2025' report that marked a rise in both endemic disease and vaccine-preventable infections. "Infectious diseases were the primary reason for over 20% of hospital bed usage, at an annual cost of almost £6bn in 2023 to 2024. Developing scientific capability and effective interventions are having positive impacts, but more action is needed," it said. This report also mentioned that COVID-19 transmission has declined, with the virus circulating at baseline levels of activity for much of the current winter season. Incremental vaccine effectiveness was around 45% against hospitalisation, with vaccine uptake in older age groups at 60% to 70%. Vaccination of priority groups, in particular the elderly, remained an important intervention to protect against severe disease. 

uk releases list of 24 infectious diseases that could pose threat in future

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