Mankind has made amazing advances in medicine over the centuries. However, the lingering effects of previous pandemics remind us of how fast advancements in medicine can be compromised. The biggest issue is that we don’t know exactly when the next epidemic could hit us and in what form it could appear. The number of potentially harmful pathogens worldwide is extremely large, yet we only have the resources to research a limited number of these at a time. Therefore, the WHO created a list of the 8 diseases that are of the most concern to help prioritize research efforts.
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a deadly tick-borne virus that infects sheep, cattle, and goats. Humans typically contract the disease through tick bites or contact with infected blood. It can also spread from one person to another through bodily fluids. The symptoms of this disease include nausea, fever, and dizziness, followed by enlargement of the liver, severe bleeding, and, in certain cases, even death. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is endemic in parts of Asia, the Middle East, and Africa and has a fatality rate of 30%. Experts are concerned that the disease could spread further as climate change expands the environment suitable for the disease-carrying ticks.
Another Corona Virus
The global community is still struggling with the consequences of COVID-19, yet another coronavirus could cause the next pandemic. Previous outbreaks, including SARS and MERS, started in animals before subsequently spreading to humans. Because viruses regularly jump from one species to another, new variants pose a constant threat. In the meantime, COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly, with many cases going unreported around the world. Experts have warned that uncontrolled transmission increases the likelihood of more serious mutations. Coronaviruses, as history has shown, move quickly through respiratory pathways, making them extremely contagious.
Influenza
Influenza is highly contagious and affects the respiratory system. While most cases only cause fatigue, muscle aches, and a fever, there are flu strains that can evolve into deadly forms. An H1N1 pandemic that occurred in 1918 killed around 50 million people. Avian flu strains, such as H5N1 don’t typically spread from birds to humans. However, a mutated strain could quickly lead to the next pandemic. While coronaviruses take a while to mutate, influenza mutates quickly, which is why there are new vaccine updates every year. While we are generally prepared for flu, a lethal and highly transmitable variant could prove hard to contain.
Paramyxovirus
Paramyxoviruses include mumps, measles, and respiratory infections. However, certain strains, such as the Nipah virus, are significantly more deadly. These RNA viruses mostly infect vertebrates and spread via respiratory droplets or by touching infected surfaces. Vaccines exist for certain paramyxoviruses, such as measles. However, there is still no licensed vaccine for Nipah and the disease kills almost 75% of infected individuals. Nipah, which originated in fruit bats, causes encephalitis and respiratory distress, which makes it a considerable pandemic threat. Unlike the coronaviruses, paramyxoviruses continue to mutate and spread in unanticipated ways.
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Zika
This virus was first discovered in 1947 in Uganda. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and unborn babies are at greatest risk. The majority of people who contract this disease experience very mild or no symptoms at all. However, Zika can cause severe birth defects, such as microcephaly, and neurological diseases such as Guillain-Barré syndrome. It has now spread to 89 countries, and transmission continues in endemic regions at low levels. While not considered an immediate threat, tracking of the disease is quite limited, which makes it difficult to predict whether outbreaks will occur in the future or not.
Rift Valley Fever
Rift Valley fever is a viral disease spread via mosquitoes that affects both animals and people alike. This virus also spreads through infected animal blood and the consumption of contaminated milk. The majority of cases are not too severe, with flu-like symptoms. However, severe infections can result in organ failure, hemorrhagic fever, or blindness. Although the disease was once confined to Africa, it has since appeared in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. This has raised concerns that it might spread even further across the globe and become the next pandemic.
Lassa Fever
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease that is endemic to West Africa. It mostly spreads through food or household objects contaminated with rodent excrement or urine. It can also spread from one person to another through bodily fluids. Most people experience mild symptoms, however, severe cases can result in organ failure and internal bleeding. The fatality rate for hospitalized patients is around 15%. No vaccine for Lassa fever exists yet and experts fear that a deadlier strain could potentially lead to the next pandemic.
Disease X
Scientists are fully aware that a previously unknown disease could suddenly arise from a laboratory, animals, or thawed from frozen permafrost. Therefore, they created a hypothetical disease called Disease X that represents the unknown. With climate change constantly changing landscapes, we could potentially see ancient viruses preserved in Arctic Ice resurface after the ice melts. Experts recommend proactive surveillance and vaccination research to prepare for unknown risks. While we cannot foresee when or where Disease X will arise, history has demonstrated that new pandemics are unavoidable.
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