Contemporary Questions in Pulmonary and Critical Care Infections-What are the Viral Candidates for the Next Pandemic SHAH

What are the Viral Candidates for the Next Pandemic SHAH

Pdf Summary

The document, presented by Adi Shah MBBS, an Assistant Professor at Mayo Clinic, focuses on identifying potential viral candidates for future pandemics based on past outbreaks and pandemic pathogens' behaviors. It emphasizes the widespread impact pandemics can have across multiple countries and the rapid growth and spread associated with them. <br /><br />Key factors influencing the spread of diseases include environmental changes, climate change, healthcare system strains, societal distrust, misinformation, economic disparities, and human factors such as living density and global travel. The document highlights the concepts of antigenic drift and shift, explaining how small mutations and major changes in viruses' surface proteins respectively can alter immunity levels and facilitate more infections.<br /><br />Current potential pandemic candidates discussed include Avian Influenza, a less virulent strain of Ebola, the easily spread MPOX, Marburg virus, and an unspecified "Pathogen X". The document emphasizes the challenges in managing these diseases due to low vaccine coverage rates and evolving variants of viruses like COVID-19.<br /><br />Avian Influenza is identified as a risk due to its presence in poultry and dairy industries, while Ebola is noted for milder initial symptoms leading to significant eventual health effects. MPOX is discussed in the context of its recent global outbreak with aspects of exposure linked to sexual activity and declining immunity from past smallpox vaccination. Marburg virus is highlighted for its severe, hemorrhagic fever symptoms originating from bats in Sub-Saharan Africa.<br /><br />Preventative measures suggested include vaccine prophylaxis, increased awareness, research coordination, and improved PPE supplies and training. The document concludes by underscoring the importance of real-time predictive models for disease spread, increased utilization of virtual healthcare, and training for pandemic readiness, along with the need for governmental regulation and standardization.

Keywords

viral candidates

pandemics

antigenic drift

antigenic shift

Avian Influenza

Ebola

MPOX

Marburg virus

Pathogen X

preventative measures