UK Health Security Agency: Over 25% Chance of New Pandemic Within 5 Years
By
Rob Hicks, MBBS
Summary
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its first Health Security Risk Assessment (HSRA), warning that there is more than a 25% likelihood of a new pandemic caused by influenza or a novel coronavirus within the next 5 years. The assessment covers 22 health risks, including respiratory infections (deemed the greatest threat), vector-borne diseases like Zika and West Nile virus (lower immediate risk but growing long-term concern), and drug-resistant infections. The report highlights that while vector-borne risks are currently lower for the UK, climate change could make conditions more favorable for their transmission over time.
Source
Twitter / XUK Health Security Agency: Over 25% Chance of New Pandemic Within 5 Yearsmdsc.peKey quotes
· 3 pulledRespiratory infections pose the greatest risk to UK health security over the next 5 years, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The agency put the likelihood of a pandemic influenza or coronavirus scenario exceeding 25% within that period.
Despite vector-borne health risks — including Zika, West Nile virus, and tick-borne encephalitis — having lower assessed likelihood and impact, they would become a greater issue over the longer term as conditions became more favourable in the UK for transmission.
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