WHO and SAGO Publish Global Framework for Investigating Pathogen Origins

According to a Sept. 4 news release, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), has published a global framework to help Member States comprehensively investigate the origins of new and re-emerging pathogens.

The news release says that “While there are a number of tools available for investigating infectious disease outbreaks, this is the first unified, structured approach to investigating the origins of a novel pathogen. This framework aims to fill that gap by providing a comprehensive set of scientific investigations and studies. It is the first version of a ‘how-to’ guide that will be updated as and when needed, based on feedback from users.”

Further, “As each outbreak and pandemic demonstrates, human and animal health is threatened by the increasing risk of the emergence of known (such as Ebola, Nipah, avian influenza, Lassa and Monkeypox viruses) and novel pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential (novel influenza, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-1, SARS-CoV-2), the ability to prevent, and when we cannot prevent, to swiftly contain outbreaks and identify their origins is scientifically, morally, and financially more critical than ever.”

The WHO global framework outlines scientific investigations and studies for six technical elements:

·       Early investigations

·       Human studies

·       Human/animal interface studies

·       Insect vector studies

·       Genomics and Phylogenetics studies

·       Biosafety/Biosecurity studies

The WHO Global framework has been designed as a resource for scientists, researchers, public health authorities, and investigators in Member States. It provides guidance when and how to initiate such multi-disciplinary investigations and offers recommendations to countries on the capacities and tools needed to successfully implement them. 

Timely and comprehensive investigations into pathogens’ origins are critical for preventing and containing global health crises.