WHO Warns of Potential Pandemic Pathogens in Africa
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified over 30 pathogens that could trigger the next pandemic in the African region. In its latest report, “Pathogens Prioritization: A Scientific Framework for Epidemic and Pandemic Research Preparedness,” WHO lists viruses and bacteria, including Lassa fever, Mpox, Ebola, dengue fever, and Chikungunya virus, as potential threats.
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Lassa fever, endemic in Nigeria, is expected to surge during the dry season, while Mpox outbreaks, caused by different virus clades, have been reported in various African countries. Recently, WHO prequalified a new vaccine for dengue fever amidst a rise in mosquito-borne viral infections across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
The report’s prioritization work involved over 200 scientists from more than 50 countries, evaluating 28 virus families and one core group of bacteria, encompassing 1,652 pathogens. The epidemic and pandemic risk was determined by considering transmission patterns, virulence, and availability of diagnostic tests, vaccines, and treatments.
WHO and the Coalition for Epidemic H Innovations (CEPI) urge researchers and governments to accelerate global research to prepare for the next pandemic. CEPI’s CEO, Dr. Richard Hatchett, praised WHO’s scientific framework, emphasizing the need for a proactive approach to countermeasure development.
