New virus catalog reveals which pathogens pose the greatest threat

Scientists recently published a catalogue of RNA viruses infecting humans that helps identify the riskiest ones for pandemic risk, with only 239 human-infecting RNA virus species identified despite thousands existing. Two-thirds of viruses on the list are zoonotic—spread from animals rather than between people—but the concern remains that these viruses could evolve to become human-transmissible. The outbreak virus list is a powerful predictor of public health emergencies, with viruses like Zaire ebolavirus, Chikungunya, Zika, and mpox proving to cause major epidemics.

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-07-07