Taking lessons from the deadly coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday (November 21) that it is launching a global scientific process to update the list of priority pathogens, the agents that have the potential to cause outbreaks or pandemics in the future.&nbsp;

COVID-19 wreaked havoc across the world, killing millions of people and impacting hundreds and thousands with a phenomenon called "long-Covid".&nbsp;

Now, the WHO is attempting to accelerate the preparation for such pandemics in the future by guiding global investment, research and development (R&amp;D), especially in vaccines, tests and treatments.&nbsp;

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"Starting with a meeting held last Friday, 18 November, WHO is convening over 300 scientists who will consider the evidence on over 25 virus families and bacteria, as well as 'Disease X'," WHO said on its website.&nbsp;

WHO further stated that the experts will recommend a list of priority pathogens that need further research and investment. The list was first published in 2017 and the last prioritization exercise was done in 2018.&nbsp;

The world health body noted that the experts will also consider the so-called "Disease X", which is an unknown pathogen that could cause a serious international epidemic.&nbsp;

As per the official release, the overall process will include both scientific and public health criteria, as well as criteria related to socioeconomic impact, access, and equity.&nbsp;

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WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said: "Targeting priority pathogens and virus families for research and development of countermeasures is essential for a fast and effective epidemic and pandemic response."&nbsp;

"Without significant R&amp;D investments prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, it would not have been possible to have safe and effective vaccines developed in record time," Ryan added.&nbsp;

As per WHO, the current list includes COVID-19, Crimean-Cong haemorrhagic fever, Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease, Lassa fever, etc.&nbsp;

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Taking lessons from the deadly coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday (November 21) that it is launching a global scientific process to update the list of priority pathogens, the agents that have the potential to cause outbreaks or pandemics in the future.

Taking lessons from the deadly coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday (November 21) that it is launching a global scientific process to update the list of priority pathogens, the agents that have the potential to cause outbreaks or pandemics in the future. COVID-19 wreaked havoc across the world, killing millions of people and impacting hundreds and thousands with a phenomenon called "long-Covid". Now, the WHO is attempting to accelerate the preparation for such pandemics in the future by guiding global investment, research and development (R&D), especially in vaccines, tests and treatments. ALSO READ | As Serbia and Kosovo fail to resolve car plates dispute, EU warns of escalation "Starting with a meeting held last Friday, 18 November, WHO is convening over 300 scientists who will consider the evidence on over 25 virus families and bacteria, as well as 'Disease X'," WHO said on its website. WHO further stated that the experts will recommend a list of priority pathogens that need further research and investment. The list was first published in 2017 and the last prioritization exercise was done in 2018. The world health body noted that the experts will also consider the so-called "Disease X", which is an unknown pathogen that could cause a serious international epidemic. As per the official release, the overall process will include both scientific and public health criteria, as well as criteria related to socioeconomic impact, access, and equity. ALSO READ | Lawsuit filed against Meta in UK over collecting user data for targeted advertisement WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said: "Targeting priority pathogens and virus families for research and development of countermeasures is essential for a fast and effective epidemic and pandemic response." "Without significant R&D investments prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, it would not have been possible to have safe and effective vaccines developed in record time," Ryan added. As per WHO, the current list includes COVID-19, Crimean-Cong haemorrhagic fever, Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease, Lassa fever, etc. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WHO works on identifying pathogens that could cause future pandemics

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is not even close to being over. It wreaked havoc across the world since it was first identified in late 2019 in China. The world is not at all ready for another pandemic? However, researchers have issued a warning about future pandemics.&nbsp;

A recent study, published in Nature journal stated that because of climate change, thousands of new and emerging viruses might jump from animals to humans in the coming years.&nbsp;

The peer-reviewed paper titled "Climate change increases cross-species viral transmission risk" predicts that if global temperatures rise by 2 Celsius, at least 15,000 new cross-species viral transmissions to happen by 2070.&nbsp;

The study explained that due to fast environmental change, several species will move from one place to another to track shifting climates.&nbsp;

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In the process of shifting they will bring their parasites and pathogens into new environments, which poses threat to global health, particularly given several "recent epidemics and pandemics of viruses that originate in wildlife".&nbsp;

Part of the study read: "Climate and land use change will produce novel opportunities for viral sharing among previously geographically-isolated species of wildlife."&nbsp;

Gregory Albery, who is an expert in disease ecology at Georgetown University and also the co-author of the paper, said that "as the world changes, the face of disease will change too."&nbsp;

"This work provides more incontrovertible evidence that the coming decades will not only be hotter, but sicker. We have demonstrated a novel and potentially devastating mechanism for disease emergence that could threaten the health of animals in the future and will likely have ramifications for us, too," he added.&nbsp;

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Albery further added that said that climate change is "shaking ecosystems to their core". The process is apparently causing alarming interactions between species that are prone to spreading viruses.&nbsp;

Albery said, "This is happing, it’s not preventable even in the best case climate change scenarios and we need to put measures in place to build health infrastructure to protect animal and human populations."&nbsp;

Will be able to stop it? Well, Albery noted that even drastic action to address the temperature rise now won't be enough to halt the risks.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;If you are unvaccinated for COVID, you are a threat to those who're jabbed

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The mass movement of species will lead to encountering among species, may for the first time. The process might create unique opportunities for viruses to transmit.&nbsp;

As per the study, areas of high human population density in Asia and Africa are highlighted by the authors as it will drive the novel cross-species transmission of their viruses an estimated 4,000 times.&nbsp;

"We predict that species will aggregate in new combinations at high elevations, in biodiversity hotspots, and in areas of high human population density in Asia and Africa, driving the novel cross-species transmission of their viruses an estimated 4,000 times," the study mentions.&nbsp;

As per the study, bats account for the majority of novel viral sharing because of their unique dispersal capacity.&nbsp;

They are likely to share viruses along evolutionary pathways that will facilitate future emergence in humans.&nbsp;

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The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is not even close to being over. It wreaked havoc across the world since it was first identified in late 2019 in China. The world is not at all ready for another pandemic?

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is not even close to being over. It wreaked havoc across the world since it was first identified in late 2019 in China. The world is not at all ready for another pandemic? However, researchers have issued a warning about future pandemics. A recent study, published in Nature journal stated that because of climate change, thousands of new and emerging viruses might jump from animals to humans in the coming years. The peer-reviewed paper titled "Climate change increases cross-species viral transmission risk" predicts that if global temperatures rise by 2 Celsius, at least 15,000 new cross-species viral transmissions to happen by 2070. The study explained that due to fast environmental change, several species will move from one place to another to track shifting climates. ALSO READ | You think videoconferencing is the new normal? But it hinders creativity, study claims In the process of shifting they will bring their parasites and pathogens into new environments, which poses threat to global health, particularly given several "recent epidemics and pandemics of viruses that originate in wildlife". Part of the study read: "Climate and land use change will produce novel opportunities for viral sharing among previously geographically-isolated species of wildlife." Gregory Albery, who is an expert in disease ecology at Georgetown University and also the co-author of the paper, said that "as the world changes, the face of disease will change too." "This work provides more incontrovertible evidence that the coming decades will not only be hotter, but sicker. We have demonstrated a novel and potentially devastating mechanism for disease emergence that could threaten the health of animals in the future and will likely have ramifications for us, too," he added. ALSO READ | Fascinating fact: Saturn Moon Titan has Earth-like landscape Albery further added that said that climate change is "shaking ecosystems to their core". The process is apparently causing alarming interactions between species that are prone to spreading viruses. Albery said, "This is happing, it’s not preventable even in the best case climate change scenarios and we need to put measures in place to build health infrastructure to protect animal and human populations." Will be able to stop it? Well, Albery noted that even drastic action to address the temperature rise now won't be enough to halt the risks. WATCH | If you are unvaccinated for COVID, you are a threat to those who're jabbed × The mass movement of species will lead to encountering among species, may for the first time. The process might create unique opportunities for viruses to transmit. As per the study, areas of high human population density in Asia and Africa are highlighted by the authors as it will drive the novel cross-species transmission of their viruses an estimated 4,000 times. "We predict that species will aggregate in new combinations at high elevations, in biodiversity hotspots, and in areas of high human population density in Asia and Africa, driving the novel cross-species transmission of their viruses an estimated 4,000 times," the study mentions. As per the study, bats account for the majority of novel viral sharing because of their unique dispersal capacity. They are likely to share viruses along evolutionary pathways that will facilitate future emergence in humans. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

What's next after COVID-19? Global heating may cause 'potentially devastating' future pandemics

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