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Experts Reveal The 11 Most Dangerous Diseases For 2025 That Are A 'big Concern'

A team of experts have revealed the 11 most dangerous diseases as we head into 2025, and the associated symptoms that come with it.

While the Covid-19 pandemic may been forgotten about now, there are many diseases impacting thousands of Americans.

So here, we take a look at the 11 most dangerous diseases that are concerning doctors right now (as per the Daily Mirror).

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria

While not a disease as such, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria are on the rise, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) describing it as a global health threat.

UKHSA Chief Executive Professor Dame Jenny Harries said in November: "Increasingly the first antibiotics that patients receive aren't effective at tackling their infections. That's not just an inconvenience – it means they are at greater risk of developing a severe infection and sepsis. Our declining ability to treat and prevent infections is having an increasing impact, particularly on our poorest communities.

"Only take antibiotics if you have been told to do so by a healthcare professional. Do not save some for later or share them with friends and family. This isn't just for your own health - it's about protecting everyone in our communities and future generations."

Bird flu

Bird flu is spread by touching infected animals, their droppings, or even bedding.

Dr Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health at the University of Southampton, said: "A permanent member of any 'possible infectious disease threat' list, avian influenza evolves its shape and style a little like the Covid variants, and has the potential to cause a pandemic.

"We haven't yet seen widespread human-to-human transmission - but we could do."

Bird flu can be passed on by touching an infected animal (Getty Stock Photo) Chikungunya

There was only one confirmed case of chikungunya in Europe in 2024, but it could be on the rise in the coming year, warned Professor Hunter.

It's another mosquito-driven viral infection, and is similar to the mayaro virus and the ross river virus.

Almost all cases of the virus are found in South America; particularly in Brazil, which had more than 400,000 between August and October in 2024. But, European climates are becoming more favourable for mosquitoes, and scientists fear chikungunya could be on the rise.

Professor Hunter said: "I think we will likely see more mosquito-borne diseases in southern Europe; mainly dengue but also probably chikungunya. I also worry about West Nile fever."

Cholera

The WHO has warned cholera is a global public health threat, though cases do remain low.

There have been several cholera pandemics since the 19th century, with cases largely coming from the continents of Africa and Asia.

Covid

While Covid is certainly less prevalent heading into 2025, the disease certainly hasn't gone away.

Dr Head said: "The vaccines, along with use of medicines and diagnostics etc., have massively blunted the public health impact of COVID-19. But, it's still here, very much hasn't gone away, and will continue to pose a problem to health services and populations everywhere around the world. Do get vaccinated if another dose if offered to you!"

In case you need reminding, symptoms of Covid include a continuous cough, high fever, and a change or loss in your taste or smell.

Remember these? (Getty Stock Photo) Dengue

Such disease is more commonly found in South America and Southeast Asia, and is the world's most commonly transmitted virus by mosquitoes.

The virus causes flu-like symptoms including a fever, headaches, and joint pain.

Symptoms include a headache (Getty Stock Photo) Disease X

Disease X isn't an actual infection, but more a disease that is yet to be identified.

Dr Head said: "Disease X is the name given to an as-yet-unknown bug, that has the potential to cause large outbreaks or even a pandemic.

"This bug would have the potential to spread quickly and have a high mortality rate; for example like COVID-19.

"The world was poorly prepared for the most recent pandemic, and though we have significant advances in technology, such as the use of mRNA platforms for vaccines and other medicines, we would likely fall short again should Disease X emerge tomorrow."

As you'd probably expect, the symptoms for such a disease remain unclear.

Disease X is not exactly a disease (Getty Stock Photo) Measles

Dr Head said: "Measles is vaccine-preventable. With two doses of the MMR vaccine, that stops measles in its tracks. With a high uptake, we could literally eradicate it from the planet, like smallpox. A lower uptake, partly due to too much covid interrupting health service delivery in the pandemic, means children in the UK and globally are being affected. It is a nasty infection in unvaccinated children, and it can and does kill."

Measles largely impacts small children, with over 100,000 people dying from the disease globally in 2023.

Measles mostly impacts young children (Getty Stock Photo) Scabies

Scabies is caused by minuscule mites burrowing into the skin to lay eggs, which can in turn cause an unpleasant and itchy rash.

Dr Head said: "The mites burrow under the skin, causing an immune response that triggers inflammation and itching. You can catch it by prolonged skin-to-skin contact, or via clothes, furniture or bedding that an infected person may have used previously."

Scabies is an unpleasant one (Getty Stock Photo) Whooping cough

A bacterial infection, whopping cough affects the lungs and can prove deadly if left untreated.

Medicine professor at the University of East Anglia, Paul Hunter said whooping cough remains a 'big concern' as it impacts mostly young children and babies.

Whooping cough mainly affects babies and young children (Getty Stock Photo) West Nile fever

The virus is transmitted by a mosquito bite, with common symptoms including headaches, fevers, swollen glands and tiredness.

Infections have been reported in the likes of Spain, France, Italy and Germany, but cases remain extremely rare.

Cases Of West Nile Fever In Tatarstan Normal For This Time Of Year — Expert

MOSCOW, July 29. /TASS/. The ongoing rise in cases of West Nile fever in Tatarstan is not an emergency, as the infections are related to seasonality and natural changes, Alexander Dmitriev, head of the center for epidemically significant infections at the National Medical Research Center of Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases of the Russian Health Ministry, told TASS.

"The hub-bub around the cases is excessive. This infection has occurred before, it is not new for Russia. It is associated with seasonality and natural changes (bird migration, mosquitoes). In 2023, eight cases occurred in Tatarstan. There are usually more cases detected closer to August," he said.

Dmitriev noted that specialists at his institution advised doctors and patients from Tatarstan. "This situation is nothing unusual, so assistance is provided upon request and necessity," the expert stressed.

Earlier, the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing's regional department reported six cases of West Nile fever in Tatarstan. After the identification of the first cases, the agency's experts carried out anti-epidemic measures. Mosquitoes were caught and tested in the places of residence and recreation of the sick, but no fever virus was detected.

West Nile fever is widespread in hot countries. Russia's southern regions are also considered to be endemic for this infection. The virus can also be found in central Russia and in the Volga Region due to summer warming. The primary cause of infection is the bite of a blood-sucking mosquito. It is recommended to use repellents, mosquito nets and fumigators to prevent infection, as well as to make sure that there are no containers with musty water, avoid being in swampy places, and wear protective clothing when visiting forests and shorelines. In case of experiencing any symptoms, one should seek medical assistance immediately.

The Key To Fighting Viruses: Understanding Their Structure Is Vital To Unlock A Healthy Future For Humanity

New grant co-led by Purdue University researcher takes aim at vaccines for emerging tick- and mosquito-borne viruses, including West Nile and dengue fever

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — One of the first things the general of any army does before a battle is scout the terrain. Without seeing and understanding the battlefield, the issues of tactics, strategy and supply are moot.

It's the same when doctors, researchers and epidemiologists fight any virus: The physical structure of its molecules dictate how a virus infects people and moves through their bodies as well as how to formulate effective vaccines and treatments.

That physical structure is precisely the expertise of molecular virologist Richard Kuhn, the Trent and Judith Anderson Distinguished Professor of Science in Purdue University's College of Science and the Krenicki Family Director of the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease. He is harnessing that expertise in partnership with a new multicenter grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The effort, led by viral expert Michael Diamond of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, alongside Kuhn, is part of NIAID's new Research and Development of Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies for Pandemic Preparedness (ReVAMPP) network.

"The core of what we do is to analyze and study the structures of viruses and antibodies," Kuhn said. "We are working to understand what the important features of an antibody are that makes it effective at neutralizing — blocking — the virus."

As part of the team in 2017 that mapped the structure of a human antibody that could potently block the Zika virus, as well as the recipient of this major grant from NIAIAD, Kuhn is one of the foremost scouts in the fight against viral diseases.

Viral threats: Tiny entities, big problems

A virus is, arguably, the smallest possible living thing. It is a bundle of DNA or RNA bound up in a minuscule core, sometimes surrounded by a sturdy envelope and sometimes not. It can reproduce, but not by itself. It relies on an outside partner to reproduce: a plant, animal or even a fungus.

In his lab in Purdue's Department of Biological Sciences, Kuhn studies specifically RNA viruses, particularly those spread by mosquitoes and ticks, including alphaviruses like chikungunya and eastern equine encephalitis, and flaviviruses like Zika, dengue fever, West Nile and yellow fever. His research involves studying the structure of viruses and how they interface with the cells of their hosts' bodies — hence the mapping of the Zika antibodies.

That structural understanding is key to being able to create vaccines and treatments for viruses.

"With the experience during the pandemic, there is more of a focus on viruses globally," Kuhn said. "Since the 1970s, at least, there has been a steady stream of known and emerging viruses, including HIV, Ebola and, of course, influenza comes back every year, sometimes with significant effect."

As climate change increases temperatures and the world becomes more global and interconnected, viruses become more prevalent and have vastly more opportunities to mutate and jump from animal to human hosts. As such, many tick- and mosquito-borne diseases like the ones Kuhn studies are becoming more of an outbreak risk.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a coronavirus. Before the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, doctors and researchers were already familiar with other coronaviruses and were well on their way to understanding how to build a vaccine for COVID-19. That's in part why research teams were able to develop effective vaccines so quickly. But all sorts of viruses cause outbreaks and epidemics — not just coronaviruses. Flaviviruses, carried by ticks and mosquitoes, might very well be among the next epidemics humanity faces.

"Despite all the human tragedy, SARS-CoV-2 was a relatively simple target in terms of quickly developing a very effective vaccine," Kuhn said. "There were features of the virus that made developing a vaccine relatively easy. The next pandemic may not be like that. It's not going to be like in the movie 'Contagion,' where they develop a vaccine in two weeks. The more work we can do now, the more it will pay off in case of a novel pandemic."

Antibodies assemble: Grant brings together dream team of experts

Kuhn is co-lead of the Flavivirus and Alphavirus ReVAMPP (FLARE) grant, which will help direct efforts to understand the physical dynamics of flaviviruses and alphaviruses in preparation for a potential pandemic.

They may not be crossing the bridge before they come to it, but they're certainly amassing the timbers and bolts and drawing up the plans.

"The whole idea here is to understand what we need to do in order to develop a vaccine against known and unknown viruses in this group," Kuhn said. "We are not developing any specific vaccine for any one virus; we are developing platforms so that when the next virus comes along, we'll be able to rapidly develop an effective vaccine for it."

FLARE incorporates researchers from 16 other academic institutions alongside Purdue and WashU Medicine, as well as industry partners. They are studying five viruses that represent the major subgroups of flaviviruses and alphaviruses, including West Nile, tick-borne encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses.

Multiple teams of experts are targeting the viruses from a range of angles to convene on the most efficient and effective solutions. Teams are working on traditional vaccine delivery systems, as well as mRNA vaccines, nanoparticle-based vaccines and antibody-based treatments.

"That's one of the beauties of science today — it's not one scientist in a lab working alone," Kuhn said. "It's an amazing network of hundreds of people across the country working in a coordinated way. I think that's one of the exciting things about this award. It brings experts from all over the place. All of the leaders in the field are involved in this grant."

These small jewellike disks are EM grids. They are how molecular virologists like Richard Kuhn are able to physically look at viruses using massive cryo-electron microscopes. (Purdue University photo/Kelsey Lefever) Unlocking vaccines: Better tools bring faster solutions

As well as being co-lead over the full grant, Kuhn also heads up one of the grant's main goals, or cores: that of the structural biology of the antibodies and viruses themselves. Increasing resolution in microscopes and other tools allows scientists to better see the virus and more rapidly identify possible routes for vaccines and treatments.

"If we take dengue virus, a very important human pathogen that affects up to 400 million people a year, there are certain features on the virus surface that antibodies like to recognize to prevent virus infections," Kuhn said. "Even if we have an unknown virus of the same group, we can predict where the same type of residues are going to be and computationally design an antibody around that."

Kuhn's team is using AI as well as increased abilities to visualize viruses to pinpoint the most effective and efficient routes for vaccines. Just as the resolutions of modern telescopes, like the James Webb Space Telescope, are allowing astronomers to peer ever more deeply and clearly into space, the tools to look at small things are improving. The increased resolution means that rather than guessing, scientists can quickly see and theorize what parts of the virus to target, drastically decreasing the amount of time it takes to address a viral infection.

"We are using the most modern tools and a team of the best experts to understand how the human immune system can be primed and targeted for the fastest, most effective response against viral pathogens," Kuhn said. "Our primary responsibility is to improve human health in the U.S. And the world."

This work is part of Purdue's One Health initiative.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue's main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.Purdue.Edu/president/strategic-initiatives.

Media contact: Brittany Steff, bsteff@purdue.Edu

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