Health professionals across the globe are raising the alarm, fearing the next international health crisis could be imminent. As the UK recovers from an unprecedented 'super flu' outbreak at the end of 2025, medical authorities have identified several key diseases causing significant concern for the coming year.
Current Crises: Flu Surge and Vaccination Decline
The National Health Service is confronting a severe seasonal challenge, described by National Medical Director Professor Meghana Pandit as a "worst-case scenario for this time of year." This follows a massive early wave of influenza, with hospital admissions in England soaring to record levels. The strain responsible, H3N2, is reported to be particularly severe, causing intense body aches, sudden fatigue, and rapid-onset symptoms. Virologists suggest genetic mutations may have made this variant "hotter" and "nastier," with a notable symptom being patients vomiting yellow bile, potentially due to the virus severely suppressing appetite.
Compounding this crisis is a worrying drop in immunisation rates. The proportion of young people receiving routine childhood vaccinations has hit a 15-year low, leaving a larger segment of the population vulnerable to preventable diseases.
Looming Threats: Mpox, Rubella and the Spectre of Disease X
Beyond the current flu wave, other pathogens are keeping experts on edge. A new strain of the Mpox virus—formerly known as monkeypox—has been detected in the UK, with officials warning it "can be severe." The virus, related to smallpox, spreads through close contact and respiratory droplets.
Meanwhile, the so-called Victorian disease rubella remains a concern. The greatest unknown, however, is Disease X. This is not a specific virus but a placeholder name for a currently unidentified pathogen with pandemic potential. Dr Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, warns that such a bug could spread quickly with a high mortality rate, similar to COVID-19. He cautions that despite advances like mRNA vaccine technology, the world remains underprepared for a sudden emergence of Disease X.
Science writer David Quammen, who previously predicted coronavirus origins, now identifies bird flu (H5N1) as the most likely candidate for the next pandemic. This concern heightened after the strain was found in a sheep on a Yorkshire farm last year.
The Underlying Vulnerability: Food Insecurity
A critical, often overlooked factor amplifying these health risks is global malnutrition. Jess Boxall, Research Fellow in Public Health and Nutrition at the University of Southampton, highlights that food insecurity weakens population immunity. Her research in rural Ghana found up to 90% of households in some communities were food insecure, unable to eat a diverse diet for optimal health. This is not just a distant issue; approximately 11% of UK households also experience food insecurity, making populations everywhere more susceptible to infectious disease outbreaks.
The convergence of specific disease threats, low vaccination uptake, and widespread nutritional vulnerability paints a troubling picture for public health in 2026. Experts urge governments and health systems to bolster preparedness, stressing that the next pandemic is not a matter of if, but when.
