Committees

Emerging diseases and learnings from covid-19

Inquiry

In the last three decades, 75% of new diseases in humans have originated in animals, and ‘spillover events’ (when a pathogen jumps from an animal into a human) have increased in prevalence. The UK has recently experienced its largest-ever outbreak of avian flu, a virus found in wild and domesticated birds which is also capable of infecting humans.

The Science and Technology Committee recently held a follow-up session on its joint Report with the Health and Social Care Committee, Coronavirus: lessons learned to date, which heard updates on the progress Government has made in implementing recommendations made by the joint inquiry with the Health and Social Care Committee.  

The Committee is seeking to examine how the Government is applying lessons learned from the covid-19 pandemic, and which of these could be applied to prevent the emergence and spread of new emerging diseases with pandemic potential. The Committee is also seeking to examine the UK’s biosecurity framework and involvement in international biosecurity initiatives.

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was Friday 31 March 2023.

Work news

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SITC evidence: The UK Health Security Agency and the legacy of UK Covid19 programmes
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee publishes full recommendations of the VTF, submitted to Government but never previously made public
28 February 2024
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How prepared is the UK for the next pandemic? MPs launch new inquiry
The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee launches an inquiry into the Government’s preparedness for emerging diseases with pandemic potential
20 December 2022
Total results 2 (page 1 of 1)

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