The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has named 24 microorganisms that pose an increasing threat to the country. These include the viruses causing Dengue, Ebola, Marburg and Zika, as well as the bacteria causing Anthrax and Plague. UKHSA believes that climate change. increasing drug resistance and, in some cases, the spread of mosquito vectors, make UK outbreaks more likely. Foreign pandemics could also cause the UK problems. Developing vaccines, tests and treatments now, could greatly improve the current situation (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/25/uk-experts-urge-prioritising-research-into-24-types-of-deadly-pathogen-families). The UKHSA list seems entirely logical. The difficulty, however, will be getting finance to develop vaccines, tests and treatments. Pharmaceutical companies tend to put their money into projects where there're predictable short-term profits. Governments also spend their limited available funds on current medical emergencies. We've never been good at preparing for possible future problems, even when the risks are growing.
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