title: Assessing the Epidemic Potential of RNA and DNA Viruses.
abstract: Many new and emerging RNA and DNA viruses are zoonotic or have zoonotic origins in an animal reservoir that is usually mammalian and sometimes avian. Not all zoonotic viruses are transmissible (directly or by an arthropod vector) between human hosts. Virus genome sequence data provide the best evidence of transmission. Of human transmissible virus, 37 species have so far been restricted to self-limiting outbreaks. These viruses are priorities for surveillance because relatively minor changes in their epidemiologies can potentially lead to major changes in the threat they pose to public health. On the basis of comparisons across all recognized human viruses, we consider the characteristics of these priority viruses and assess the likelihood that they will further emerge in human populations. We also assess the likelihood that a virus that can infect humans but is not capable of transmission (directly or by a vector) between human hosts can acquire that capability.
authors.forename: Mark E J
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Woolhouse
authors.forename: Liam
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brierley
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCaffery
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lycett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D012327:RNA Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D012306:Risk; D015047:Zoonoses
keywords: DNA viruses; RNA viruses; emerging viruses; epidemic potential; outbreaks; transmission; viruses; zoonoses