New List of the Most Dangerous Pathogens Will Include 'Disease X,' the Likely Next Pandemic - Gizmodo

“Targeting priority pathogens and virus families for research and development of countermeasures is essential for a fast and effective epidemic and pandemic response.

While SARS-CoV-2 was unknown to scientists until the covid-19 pandemic it caused began in late 2019, the WHO’s list did and still does include the coronaviruses behind Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

This time around, scientists will be asked to adopt a broader approach to identifying potential threats, one that will focus more on families of pathogens rather than individual germs—a change inspired by the lessons learned from the covid-19 pandemic, according to the WHO.