Title : Identifying priority emerging infectious diseases with pandemic potential
Abstract:
The rapid emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases threaten global health security, with recent experience underscoring the urgent need to identify high-risk pathogens poised for pandemic escalation. The World Health Organization’s July 2024 update has refined its priority pathogen list, transitioning to a flexible, family-based approach and spotlighting “Pathogen X” and other prototype families to strengthen preparedness efforts globally. Leveraging epidemiological, genomic, and surveillance data, this review integrates recent Indian and International trends to highlight priority pathogens including avian influenza (H5N2), Nipah virus, dengue and zoonotic threats such as KFD, CCHF, and leptospirosis. The escalating threat of emerging infectious diseases with pandemic potential demands a globally coordinated response anchored in science, equity, and innovation. The 2025 World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement, adopted by member states, marks a landmark international framework to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and response through equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics and through galvanizing global cooperation. This agreement institutionalizes a One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health surveillance for early detection and rapid response to high-risk pathogens. India, burdened by persistent outbreaks of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, demonstrates both vulnerability and innovation. It’s One Health mission fosters integrative surveillance, rapid vaccine development, and digital tools, providing a blueprint for rapid response within 100 days of pathogen detection. It also exemplifies how national efforts align with the WHO treaty’s goals, serving as a vital node in the global health security network. Emerging infectious diseases, projected to be predominantly zoonotic, demand adaptive, cross-sectoral strategies, international data sharing, and scalable technological innovations. By prioritizing predictive surveillance, workforce capacity-building, and platform technology development, public health systems can pre-emptively curb transmission and minimize societal impact. Identifying and mapping pandemic-prone infectious threats is not only a strategic imperative for India, but a cornerstone for building a collaborative, agile, and durable global health future.
Keywords: Emerging Infectious diseases, Pandemic Potential, Global Surveillance, India, One Health, Zoonosis, Preparedness
