“WHO LISTS NEW PRIORITY PATHOGENS FOR SURVEILLANCE”

Why in the news?

  • The WHO’s updated priority pathogens list includes over 30 threats, highlighting ongoing global health concerns.
  • Recent outbreaks of Nipah and Zika underscore the need for enhanced surveillance.
WHO LISTS NEW PRIORITY PATHOGENS FOR SURVEILLANCE - UPSCsource:medium

WHO’s Priority Pathogens List:

  • Global Health Update:
    • COVID-19 remains a concern with recent reports of over 40 athletes testing positive at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
    • The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its list of “priority pathogens,” highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance and research.
  • Pathogens on the Priority List:
    • The WHO’s updated list includes over 30 pathogens, evaluated by 200 scientists from 54 countries.
    • Notable pathogens include Nipah virus, Ebola, Zika virus, dengue, and influenza A viruses.
    • New additions among bacteria include those causing plague, cholera, pneumonia, dysentery, and non-typhoidal salmonella.
  • Regional Concerns and Surveillance:
    • In India, Nipah virus has caused recent fatalities, and Zika virus cases are rising in Maharashtra.
    • The report emphasises the need for surveillance of pathogens to monitor their spread, virulence, and resistance to treatment.
    • Bacterial pathogens, especially in Southeast Asia, are also highlighted for their potential health impacts.
Critical Priority Pathogens:

Definition:

  • Bacteria that pose major global health threats due to their resistance to current treatments.
  • They can transfer their resistance genes to other bacteria.

WHO’s Updated List:

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) has revised its Bacterial Pathogens Priority List (BPPL).
  • Includes 15 families of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
  • Pathogens are categorised into critical, high, and medium priority groups to guide response efforts.

High Burden in Regions:

  • Certain high-priority pathogens, such as Salmonella and Shigella, are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries.
  • These pathogens present significant challenges in healthcare settings.

Antibiotic Resistance:

  • Includes gram-negative bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics.
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to Rifampicin, a crucial antibiotic, are also noted.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):

  • AMR occurs when pathogens no longer respond to medicines.
  • Causes include misuse and overuse of antimicrobials.

Challenges:

  • Pathogens like antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Enterococcus faecium cause persistent infections.
  • They show resistance to multiple antibiotics, requiring focused research and public health interventions.

WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogens List (BPPL) 2024:

Purpose: The 2024 WHO BPPL is a key tool in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) globally, guiding research and development for new antibiotics.

Updates:

  • Replaces the 2017 edition.
  • Expands the list to 24 antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens.
  • Updates rankings to address evolving threats from antibiotic resistance.

Bacterial Pathogens Priority List (BPPL) Overview:

  • Purpose: Guides global efforts against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by prioritising research and development (R&D) for new antibacterials.

Background:

  • First developed by WHO in 2017 with 13 pathogens listed.
  • Utilises multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) for systematic evaluation.

2024 Update:

  • Includes 24 pathogens across 15 families.
  • Categorised into critical, high, and medium priority groups.

Significance:

  • Directs R&D investments, informs public health strategies, and engages stakeholders in AMR initiatives.

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/who-warns-critical-priority-pathogens-pose-an-escalating-global-health-threat/