The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently introduced the Priority Pathogens Reference Tool. This is a significant step forward for the UK’s Biological Security Strategy. This tool is tailored for UK public health requirements. It singles out 24 pathogen families as posing the highest risk to public health. It forms a crucial part of the global 100 Days Mission, aiming to deploy effective vaccines within 100 days of a new pandemic threat. The tool's release underscores the need for stronger diagnostic, treatment, and vaccine (DTV) pipelines, particularly in light of recent experiences with COVID-19 and mpox.
The Priority Pathogens Reference Tool raises an historic high bar. It provincializes global public health threats whilst honing in on those that pose the most risk to UK population. The joint initiative, though mainly UK-driven, serves to further underscore the country’s commitment to strengthening global health security and pandemic preparedness.
Identifying High-Threat Pathogens
The Reference Tool lists urgent, serious and concerning bacterial and viral threats to public health. The bacterial family Bacillaceae contains members like the famous agent of anthrax, Bacillus anthracis. Another family, Coxiellaceae, is represented by Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever. Viral threats include families like Picornaviridae, home to enteroviruses D68 and A71, linked to acute flaccid myelitis.
The tool demands more research on Coronaviridae, the family of viruses which includes SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The main subject being the Paramyxoviridae family, which includes the Measles and Nipah virus. It emphasizes the Orthomyxoviridae family which, as you may have guessed, is most famous for avian influenza.
Mark Woolhouse, an infectious diseases specialist, agreed that there were overall more beneficial aspects to zeroing in on coronaviruses and influenza viruses.
“Of the highest priority pathogens identified by the UKHSA, no one could argue with the inclusion of coronaviruses and influenza viruses,” said Mark Woolhouse.
Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness
The Priority Pathogens Reference Tool will be revised annually. It operates in conjunction with other qualitative and quantitative data to inform researchers, policymakers, and other decisionmakers. Dr. Isabel Oliver, UKHSA's chief scientific officer, highlighted the tool's potential to guide scientific investment where it is most needed.
“We hope this will help to speed up vaccine and diagnostics development where it is most needed, to ensure we are fully prepared in our fight against potentially deadly pathogens,” stated Dr Isabel Oliver.
Prior to 2020, the UK’s pandemic preparedness strategy was panned as being too influenza-centric. Our new Threat Explorer tool was designed with this in mind, expanding the focus from more traditional cyberattacks to a larger set of threats. Woolhouse acknowledged that what the UK learned from the mishandling of COVID-19 was that a more flexible approach would be required to deal with new threats.
“When COVID arrived, it took too long to adjust our response to a different threat, which was part of the reason we ended up in lockdown,” said Mark Woolhouse.
Advancing Global Health Initiatives
The Priority Pathogens Reference Tool is an important part of the United Kingdom’s contribution to the global 100 Days Mission. This global effort aims to speed vaccine development to respond more rapidly to emerging pandemic threats. By helping to identify and prioritize high-risk pathogens, the tool directly supports efforts to strengthen global health security and preparedness.
Woolhouse cautioned against prioritizing just a narrow range of threats.
“We should not put all our eggs in one basket,” he advised.
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