- READ MORE: Britain needs to take immediate action to combat fatal Disease X now.
Top health authorities have cautioned bird flu Could trigger the next pandemic, following a new development in the tale recently.
Richard Pebody, director of epidemic and emerging infections at The UK Health Security Agency, said the strain of the virus causing concern, H5N1, has the potential to spark a global emergency similar to Covid.
He stated today in Manchester that H5N1 has the capability to turn into a pandemic, possibly a future one.
His remarks follow the detection of the virus in a sheep in Northern England yesterday. the first known case unique of its kind globally.
Regarding that transition between species, Mr. Peabody mentioned it was a key aspect of how birds evolved. flu had altered since it initially appeared in the 1990s.
As he noted, 'Its characteristics have evolved over the last three or four years.'
We're observing this issue in the United States among dairy cows and various other animal species. Similarly, we're encountering it here in the UK as well. Therefore, we are collaborating closely with experts in veterinary medicine to ensure that public health is safeguarded.
When asked whether UKHSA’s evaluation of avian influenza had evolved due to the latest case, Mr. Peabody stated it introduced “a new aspect to the narrative,” yet he also noted with relief that additional cases among sheep had not been detected.



He stated, "As usual, it involves this continuous, ongoing risk evaluation," He explained further, "'Currently, that hasn’t really altered.'"
His remarks follow the UK Health Security Agency’s serious warning regarding 24 lethal viruses that have the potential to cause the next 'Disease X,' a term frequently used to identify the possible agent behind the upcoming pandemic.
The body has identified four pathogens as posing a significant pandemic threat, with avian influenza being one of them that was included in this classification.
The virus, demonstrating a worrying capacity for interspecies transmission, has already affected one British farmer who was known to have come into contact with infected poultry.
At the same time, the illness took its initial toll on a person in the United States way back in January, resulting in the death of a 65-year-old individual with pre-existing medical issues after being exposed to their own group of wild birds.
A measles-like virus that could potentially pose 'a significantly greater risk than COVID-19' has also been flagged as a concern by specialists.
A prominent scientist cautioned that the UKHSA list encompasses viruses which might prove 'incredibly difficult to contain' even with the most rigorous measures. lockdown ’.
The government has expressed such concerns that they announced the release of a new comprehensive guide, which will be regularly updated to ensure that scientists and researchers remain current regarding emerging threats.

An unsettling pathogen from the Picornaviridae family leads to viruses that induce illnesses similar to polio.
For instance, consider the illness known as acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a rare disorder that causes muscle weakness and paralysis.
In January, a 15-year-old lad from Rochdale ended up paralyzed following an AFM infection. BBC reported.
Health officials have likewise cautioned that viruses from the Paramyxoviridae family could potentially lead to pandemics.
These encompass illnesses such as measles, mumps, and certain respiratory tract infections, along with the Nipah virus — known for transmitting from bats or pigs to humans — leading to encephalitis and fatalities.
Significant measles outbreaks have already been documented globally due to decreasing vaccination rates.
In last year, England saw confirmation of 2,911 measles cases, marking the highest annual total since 2012.
The severe disease primarily impacting children may lead to complications such as pneumonia, inflammation of the eyes resulting in vision loss, and swelling of the brain causing seizures, hearing impairment, and potential brain injury.

Other viruses being monitored by authorities include coronaviruses like Covid-19 and MERS, which has thus far resulted in over 900 deaths, primarily in the Middle Eastern region.
Mark Woolhouse, who is a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Edinburgh, stated The Mirror Scientists are primarily worried about a virus similar to measles.
'A virus similar to measles could present a much greater danger than COVID-19,' he stated.
'A such virus would exhibit a significantly higher reproduction rate compared to the initial strains of COVID-19, rendering it uncontrollable through even the most stringent lockdown measures.'
The R number indicates the average number of individuals that an infected person will transmit a virus to.
'This is exactly the type of pandemic that global public health organizations worry about,' he noted.
Measles outbreaks can erase the memory of our immune systems, leading to an increase in various infections across the country.
According to a study conducted at Harvard Medical School in 2019, the measles virus can eliminate between 40% and 75% of the antibodies responsible for defending against previous viral or bacterial infections that a child had been protected against.
Dr. Isabel Oliver, the Chief Scientific Officer at UKHSA, stated that the updated virus list serves as a means to underscore how scientific investigations can be directed towards enhancing the country’s readiness for potential health risks.
'We are employing this tool during discussions with the scientific community to aid in directing investments towards areas that will yield the most significant outcomes.'
'We hope this will expedite the development of vaccines and diagnostic tools precisely where they are crucial, ensuring we are thoroughly equipped for battling potentially lethal pathogens.'
In September 2019, the now-disbanded Public Health England warned that rising antibiotic resistance among bacteria might contribute to what was termed as a possible Disease X.
Read more
Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Learn more