New human-infecting viruses discovered every year, study finds
Comprehensive virus catalogue reveals two to three new human-infective viruses are identified annually, highlighting ongoing pandemic risks and the need for sustained global surveillance
13 Jul 2026Industry news
Scientists from the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Peking in China have compiled the most comprehensive global catalogue1 of human-infective viruses to date, revealing that two to three new viruses capable of infecting humans are still being discovered every year worldwide, underscoring a persistent pandemic threat and the urgent need for stronger global surveillance and preparedness.
Comprehensive global catalogue of human-infective viruses
The new dataset identifies 239 virus species known to infect humans and tracks when and where they first emerged, how they spread, and their potential to cause outbreaks. The catalogue brings together decades of scientific evidence to provide an up-to-date resource on human-infective viruses.
Earlier versions of the dataset flagged high-consequence pathogens such as Ebola virus and Zika virus years before they caused major epidemics. The catalogue has also highlighted the Andes hantavirus as a virus of concern because of its outbreak potential, aligning with renewed international attention on hantaviruses in recent weeks.
Ongoing virus discovery and pandemic preparedness
The research shows that virus discovery is ongoing rather than slowing, indicating that the pool of human-infective viruses is still expanding. Experts say this underlines the need for sustained global surveillance systems and stronger preparedness against future infectious disease threats, including potential pandemics.
Researchers say the dataset can help identify which viruses pose the greatest risk to public health, improve tracking of emerging diseases, and refine predictions about future outbreaks. By systematically cataloguing human-infective viruses, the study supports risk assessment and prioritisation for global health security.
RNA viruses and emerging disease risk
RNA viruses, which include infections such as influenza, measles and COVID-19, are responsible for a substantial global disease burden and are disproportionately associated with emerging outbreaks.
The updated dataset shows that 90 per cent of these viruses (215 species) are also found in non-human animals, confirming that animal reservoirs are the main source of new human viruses. Only a minority of viruses – 60 species – are capable of sustained human-to-human transmission, including those responsible for epidemics and pandemics.
A further group of viruses can spread between people but has so far only caused limited outbreaks. These viruses, which include coronaviruses and relatives of Ebola virus, are of particular concern to experts because they have demonstrated human transmissibility but have not yet caused large-scale epidemics.
Global distribution and genomic data
The catalogue builds on earlier versions first published in 2001 and last updated in 2018. Since the last update, more than 20 additional RNA virus species have been identified, alongside major changes to virus classification and rapid growth in genome sequencing.
The new, openly available dataset includes detailed geographic information on where each virus was initially reported, showing that new human-infective viruses have been identified in every region of the world except Antarctica.
The catalogue also links to publicly available genome sequences for most virus species, making it a valuable tool for genetic, evolutionary and epidemiological research. This integration of epidemiological and genomic data is intended to support more accurate modelling of virus emergence and spread.
Evolving resource for emerging virus surveillance
The research team emphasises that the catalogue represents a snapshot of current knowledge and will continue to evolve as new viruses are discovered and classifications are updated.
Mark Woolhouse, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh’s Usher Institute, said, “New human-infective viruses are being discovered all the time. Any one of them could be Disease X – the cause of the next pandemic. Our database will help researchers characterise the threat and prepare for it.”
References
1. Zhang, F., Lu, L., Brierley, L. et al. A complete catalogue of human-infective RNA viruses. Sci Data 13, 981 (2026).
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Frequently asked questions
What is the global catalogue of human-infective viruses and which universities developed it?
The global catalogue of human-infective viruses is an updated dataset identifying 239 virus species that infect humans, tracking when and where they emerged, how they spread, and their outbreak potential. It was compiled by scientists from the University of Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow, and Peking University in China, and is published in the journal Scientific Data.
How many new human-infective viruses are discovered each year and what does this mean for pandemic preparedness?
The article reports that two to three new viruses capable of infecting humans are still being discovered every year worldwide. This ongoing virus discovery shows that the pool of human-infective viruses is expanding, underscoring a persistent pandemic threat and highlighting the urgent need for sustained global surveillance systems and stronger preparedness for future infectious disease outbreaks.
Why are RNA viruses and animal reservoirs central to emerging infectious disease risk?
According to the catalogue, RNA viruses such as influenza, measles and COVID-19 cause a substantial global disease burden and are disproportionately linked to emerging outbreaks. The updated dataset shows that 90% of human-infective viruses (215 species) are also found in non-human animals, confirming that animal reservoirs are the main source of new human viruses and a critical focus for global health security.