Nine Diseases That Keep Epidemiologists up at Night

The World Health Organization (WHO) keeps a list of viruses and bacteria with pandemic potential. Jill Weatherhead of Baylor College of Medicine says prioritizing diseases is generally based on two factors: their ability to spread and the ability of humans to treat them. The list helps guide scientists, governments and organizations in investing energy and funds to study the pathogens most likely to cause the greatest devastation to humans. The WHO develops "blueprints" with strategic goals and research priorities for each disease on the list. This article from NPR explains the diseases on the current list – like Nipah Virus, Lassa Fever, Zika, and more.