What will the next health crisis be? Experts draw up list of 37 viruses 'most likely to trigger major epidemics'

By Press Association

Published: | Updated:

A list of 37 viruses that pose a potential threat to populations around the world has been drawn up by experts.

All the infectious agents have shown some ability to spread between people but not so far caused a major epidemic.

Among those of greatest concern are MERS coronavirus, relatives of Ebola, and several mosquito-borne viruses, all of which have caused isolated disease outbreaks.

Scientists have drawn up a list of the 37 viruses, such as MERS-CoV, which pose most threat to the world's population

Scientists have drawn up a list of the 37 viruses, such as MERS-CoV, which pose most threat to the world's population

THE 37 VIRUSES BEING MONITORED BY OFFICIALS 

Of human transmissible virus, 37 species have so far been restricted to self-limiting outbreaks. 

These viruses are priorities for surveillance because relatively minor changes in their epidemiologies can potentially lead to major changes in the threat they pose to public health. 

Guanarito

Junin

Lassa

Lujo

Machupo

Sabia

Dandenong* 

lymphocytic choriomeningitis* 

Andes

Bwamba

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever 

Oropouche 

Rift Valley 

severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome  

Japanese encephalitis* 

Usutu* 

West Nile*

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) 

Barmah Forest

o’nyong-nyong

Ross River

Semliki Forest

Venezuelan equine encephalitis  

Bundibugyo Ebola 

Lake Victoria Marburg

Sudan Ebola 

Nipah 

Bas-Congo

rabies*  

Nelson Bay

Colorado tick fever* 

Titi monkey

Macacine herpesvirus 1

Simian virus 40

Monkeypox

Orf

vaccinia

*Human transmission of these viruses is known only by iatrogenic or vertical routes 

Advertisement

Currently these viruses are mostly confined to animals. 

But if they became able to pass more easily from person-to-person they could pose a serious danger, say the scientists.

The team used prediction methods already used to warn of the threat of Zika and Ebola before both sparked major epidemics.

Lead researcher Professor Mark Woolhouse, from the University of Edinburgh, said: 'Monitoring these infections should be prioritised because relatively minor changes in their ecology could lead to major changes in the threat they pose to public health.'

The scientists reviewed characteristics of the viruses, including what species they infect and how well they adapt to new hosts. 

They also considered the severity of the infections.

The study, published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, was funded by the Wellcome Trust's Vietnam Initiative on Zoonotic Infections and the European Union Compare project.

Most watched News videos

Comments 9

Share what you think

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.