British health chiefs have issued a stark warning about 24 deadly viruses that could trigger the next pandemic - known as 'Disease X'.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) identified four virus families currently circulating that pose the greatest threat.
Among these, experts warn that a measles-like virus could be "considerably more dangerous than Covid".
One professor at the University of Edinburgh suggested that some viruses on the list might be "impossible to control by even the strictest lockdown".
Experts warn that a measles-like virus could be "considerably more dangerous than Covid" (Stock)
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One of the concerning pathogens belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family, which includes measles, mumps and some respiratory tract infections, as well as the Nipah virus - which can cause brain swelling and death.
Recently, measles cases have surged across England, with 2,911 confirmed cases last year - the highest number since 2012.
The disease primarily affects children and can lead to serious complications including pneumonia, eye inflammation, vision loss, and brain inflammation, which can in turn result in seizures, hearing loss and permanent brain damage.
Edinburgh University's Mark Woolhouse explained that scientists are most concerned about a measles-type virus which would "pose a threat far worse than Covid".
He also warned such a virus would have a much higher infection rate than the original variants of Covid, making it "impossible to control by even the strictest lockdown".
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"This is the kind of pandemic that public health agencies around the world are most concerned about," Professor Woolhouse added.
Measles poses an additional danger beyond its immediate symptoms, as it can severely damage the immune system.
A 2019 Harvard Medical School study revealed that measles can erase up to 75 per cent of antibodies which fight against viruses or bacteria that a child was previously immune to.
The disease effectively wipes the memory of our immune systems, which has led health experts to warn that a large measles outbreak might consequently lead to a national rise in other infections.
The other three virus families on the UKHSA watchlist include the Picornaviridae family, which triggers polio-like diseases, including acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a rare condition causing muscle weakness and paralysis.
The fourth family included in the list of threats is Orthomyxoviridae, which includes bird flu (Stock)
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Earlier this year, a 15-year-old boy from Rochdale was left paralysed in January after contracting AFM.
Coronaviruses such as Covid-19 and MERS, which has killed more than 900 people, are also being monitored.
The fourth family is Orthomyxoviridae, which includes bird flu.
This virus has already been detected in one British farmer who had contact with infected birds, while a sheep in northern England has also been detected recently.
Chief Scientific Officer for UKHSA Professor Isabel Oliver said: "We are using the tool as part of our conversations with the scientific community, to help ensure that investment is focused to where it can have the biggest impact.
"We hope this will help to speed up vaccine and diagnostics development where it is most needed, to ensure we are fully prepared in our fight against potentially deadly pathogens."
