Each year, scientists uncover new viruses, but only a few have the potential to cause widespread illness. Research from the University of Edinburgh sheds light on which viruses are most likely to threaten global health and why vigilance remains essential.
- Most dangerous viruses spread easily between humans.
- Two-thirds of viruses infect humans but rarely pass from person to person.
- Pandemics often arise from RNA viruses with changing transmissibility.
What happened
Scientists typically discover two to three new viruses each year, many of which attract little attention or disappear from records entirely. However, certain viruses, such as HIV-1 in the early 1980s and SARS-CoV-2 in 2020, have caused pandemics with massive loss of life. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have studied the history of viruses to identify those with the highest pandemic potential.
Their findings emphasize that RNA viruses constitute the majority of viruses linked to recent pandemics. Although thousands of RNA virus species exist, only a small fraction infect humans. Among these, only a subset can spread easily from person to person — a critical factor for causing widespread outbreaks.
Why it feels good
Many viruses that infect humans are zoonotic, meaning they typically jump from animals to people but do not spread well between humans. Examples include rabies and certain bird flu strains. The fact that these viruses rarely transmit among people offers a measure of reassurance against sudden pandemic emergence from all novel viruses.
Additionally, understanding viral transmission dynamics allows scientists and public health officials to better anticipate which viruses might evolve to become more transmissible and thus more dangerous. This predictive insight supports proactive monitoring and pandemic preparedness, boosting public confidence in health safety measures.
What to enjoy or watch next
The ongoing surveillance of viruses such as Bundibugyo ebolavirus and Andes hantavirus—which have caused recent outbreaks—offers real-time examples of how monitoring can inform responses to potential threats. Similarly, studying the evolution of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 illustrates how changes in transmissibility impact pandemics.
Looking ahead, the scientific community remains focused on identifying ‘disease X,’ a hypothetical virus that could trigger the next global health emergency. Advances in viral cataloging and transmission modeling provide hope that future dangerous viruses can be detected and contained early, helping to prevent the scale of devastation seen in past pandemics.