British scientists at the highly classified Porton Down laboratory have begun researching a new class of vaccines to combat an unknown future epidemic dubbed “Disease X.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scientists at the Porton Down defence technology complex in Wiltshire, England, are developing new vaccinations to combat a number of current animal viruses that are thought to represent a threat of spreading to people and sparking a catastrophe comparable to the Chinese coronavirus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While scientists have identified numerous potential “high-risk” pathogens, such as avian flu, hantavirus, and monkeypox, which virus will break through is currently unclear, and hence the project’s mandate is to tackle “Disease X.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The project’s 200 scientists claim to have already created the world’s first vaccine for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic disease, which spreads by tick bites and has a 30% death rate. The vaccine is now being tested on 24 volunteers in the early stages of clinical testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an\u00a0interview\u00a0with Sky News, the\u00a0head of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Professor Dame Jenny Harries said: \u201cWhat we\u2019re trying to do here is ensure that we prepare so that if we have a new Disease X, a new pathogen, we have done as much of that work in advance as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHopefully we can prevent it [a pandemic]. But if we can\u2019t and we have to respond, then we have already started developing vaccines and therapeutics to crack it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prof Harries claimed that factors such as urbanization and climate change are making it more likely for pandemics to emerge on a global scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSome of that is because of things like urbanisation where you may get virus jumping into humans [living close-by], as we\u2019ve seen with bird flu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd some of it is because of climate change where you get things like ticks and mosquitoes moving to where it was previously cold and is now becoming increasingly warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo this is a growing risk agenda. But it\u2019s one we can use our science actively to prevent human impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the professor, the work being done at Porton Down is part of a global effort to produce a novel vaccine within 100 days of a new infection emerging in the public that has the potential to become a pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Normally, it would take five or ten years.” “It was around 360 days for COVID,” Harries remarked. “So this is a very lofty goal.” But that is certainly conceivable for some viruses.”<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
British scientists at the highly classified Porton Down laboratory have begun researching a new class of vaccines to combat an unknown future epidemic dubbed “Disease X.” Scientists at the Porton … <\/p>\n