The World Health Organization has revealed its list of more than 30 pathogens that are most likely to cause the next pandemic. 

Among the most dangerous viruses and bacteria is H5N1 bird flu, which is spreading in the US and which scientists fear could easily mutate to jump between humans.

There are also fears about the mosquito-borne Dengue fever, sometimes dubbed the ‘bone-breaking disease’ which is also spreading in the US at unprecedented levels. And monkeypox, which caused a global epidemic in 2022, was also on the list, amid an outbreak of a deadlier and more infectious strain in Africa. More than half of the entries were new compared to the list from 2017, when the list was first published.

It also included Hantavirus, a virus that spreads among rodents, the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus, flu and Covid.

The scientists also added smallpox even though it is currently eradicated, fearing it could be accidentally released in a lab accident and then spread quickly because few people now have immunity against the virus.

And the rodent-borne Lassa fever, which can cause bleeding from the gums, eyes and nose and seizures in patients.

The list was compiled by 200 scientists from more than 50 countries after reviewing a shortlist of 1,600 bacterium and viruses.

Those marked as having ‘pandemic potential’ were highly transmissible and virulent — or able to cause serious disease in humans.

The diseases most dangerous were also those that had no vaccines or treatments available for patients.

Previously, the lists from 2017 and 2018 had only included about a dozen pathogens.

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