The WHO said on Monday that it was working on a new list of priority pathogens that should be kept under close watch.
The aim is to update a list used to guide global research and development.
More than 300 scientists are being convened by the UN's health agency to consider evidence on more than 25 virus families andbacteria.
There is an unknown pathogen that could cause a serious international epidemic.
"Targeting priority pathogens and virus families is essential for a fast and effective epidemic and Pandemic response," said WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan.
It would not have been possible to have safe and effective vaccines in record time without significant R&D investments.
The list was published a few years ago.
The current list includes Covid-19, Marburg virus disease, Lassa fever, Middle East respiratory syndrome, and severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Knowledge gaps and research priorities will be pinpointed for each pathogen.
It's possible to draw up specifications for vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tests.
Efforts are made to facilitate clinical trials in order to develop such tools.
The updated list is expected to be published in April.
As the WHO prepares for the next round of talks, pathogen threat sessions are taking place.
An intergovernmental negotiating body is paving the way for a global agreement that could regulate how nations prepare for and respond to future threats.
They are going to have a third meeting in December in order to draft and negotiate a WHO convention or other kind of international agreement on Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
Next year, a progress report will be presented to WHO member states, with the final outcome presented in 2024.
The first draft of the December meeting text was released last week.
The panel for a global public health convention said the draft did not go far enough.
The panel said Monday that more needs to be done to establish accountability and clear timelines for alert and response to avoid damaging consequences.
The panel said that once an outbreak is detected, there are a few critical hours to report, assess and act to stop the spread of a disease.
The current draft does not go far enough to alert the public of the need to prepare for disease X or known pathogens.
When information about the new coronaviruses was suppressed, to multiple countries taking a 'wait and see' approach when COVID-19 cases were first reported...
Agence France- Presse.
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