Overview

• The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released a list of 24 pathogen families posing significant public health risks, including Coronaviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, and Filoviridae.
• The list serves as a tool to prioritize research funding and accelerate the development of vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments for high-risk pathogens.
• Pathogens were assessed based on factors such as disease severity, transmission routes, climate change sensitivity, and antimicrobial resistance.
• The initiative reflects lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the need for broader threat assessments and flexible responses to emerging risks.
• This effort is part of the UK government’s Biological Security Strategy and will be updated regularly to address evolving biological threats.