After the Corona disaster.. urgent action from Britain to confront the disease X epidemic

British scientists are already working on developing vaccines for a future “disease X

” epidemic, according to the British “Sky News” network.

  After the Corona virus “Covid-19” pandemic, researchers believe that the deadly pathogens that it transmits, including bird flu, smallpox and hantavirus, may evolve to infect humans.

The research is being carried out by Britain's Health Security Agency at Porton Down's high-security laboratories complex in Wiltshire, where the Porton Down Vaccine Development and Evaluation Center has been expanded since the coronavirus pandemic, and 200 scientists are now working to develop vaccines for animal viruses that have not yet infected humans.

The head of Britain's Health Security Agency, Professor Dame Jenny Harris, told British Sky News: "What we're trying to do here is make sure we prepare so that if we have a new disease X, a new disease, we've done as much of that work as we can." In advance...we hope we can prevent [the epidemic]. But if we can't and we have to respond, we have already started developing vaccines and treatments to eradicate them.”

The “Sky News” network reported that the Porton Down team had already developed a vaccine against Crimean and Congo hemorrhagic fever, a disease spread by ticks that kills 30% of those infected with it. Early-stage clinical trials have begun, and 24 volunteers are expected to test the vaccine in the near future.

Other pathogens being studied include avian influenza, smallpox and hantavirus, a family of viruses spread by rodents.

Sky News did not specify whether scientists were conducting so-called gain-of-function research on these pathogens. Gain-of-function research involves modifying viruses to make them more susceptible to infecting humans, in order to weaponize them or develop vaccines against them.

Disease X:

Disease X is a term coined by the World Health Organization for an unknown pathogen that could cause a future pandemic, and scientists worldwide are working to develop a vaccine in preparation.

British scientists at a top-secret lab in Porton Down are leading the effort to create a vaccine that could halt a lethal pandemic within 100 days of its emergence, focusing on various high-risk pathogens.

While there are several theories on what might become Disease X, from bird flu to antibiotic resistance, the exact nature of this potential threat remains unknown, and it could emerge from various sources, including biological mutation or zoonotic transmission.

Countries and organizations around the world have committed over $1.5 billion, with additional investments from private entities, to support the creation of a Disease X vaccine, significantly boosting research capacity and collaboration.

Concerns over global migration, climate change, urbanization, and close proximity between humans and animals are increasing the risks, emphasizing the urgent need for preparedness, as seen in the rapid response to COVID-19 and the readiness to counter emerging global health threats.