The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified over 30 pathogens that could potentially cause the next pandemic in the African region, according to its latest report, “Pathogen Prioritisation: A Scientific Framework for Epidemic and Pandemic Research Preparedness.”
The report highlights several high-risk viruses and bacteria, including Lassa fever, Mpox, Ebola, dengue fever, respiratory viruses, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and Chikungunya virus.
Lassa fever, which is endemic in Nigeria, typically sees its highest number of cases during the dry season from December to April. As the dry season continues, the incidence of Lassa fever is expected to rise.
Mpox outbreaks are associated with various virus clades. Clade 1b has been confirmed in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, while analysis is ongoing for Burundi. Clade 1a has been reported this year in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and the Republic of Congo, and Clade 2 has been identified in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, and South Africa.
The WHO has recently prequalified TAK-003 as a new vaccine for dengue, following a surge in mosquito-borne viral infections across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
The prioritisation process involved over 200 scientists from more than 50 countries, who assessed the risks of 28 virus families and one core group of bacteria from a shortlist of 1,652 pathogens. The evaluation focused on factors such as transmission patterns, virulence, and the availability of diagnostic tests, vaccines, and treatments.
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the WHO have urged researchers and governments to intensify and expedite global research efforts to prepare for future pandemics.
Dr. Richard Hatchett, Chief Executive Officer of CEPI, emphasized the significance of the WHO’s scientific framework, stating, “WHO’s scientific framework for epidemic and pandemic research preparedness marks a crucial shift in global countermeasure development, and CEPI strongly supports this approach.”
