Britain to create the world’s first DNA test 'early warning system' for the next Disease X

A pioneering DNA test is being rolled out on the NHS as experts say there is a one in four chance of another pandemic on the scale of Covid-19 in the next decade

Britain will create the world’s first genetic “early warning system” for future pandemics, the Government has announced.

The NHS is introducing the first real-time surveillance system which will see serious respiratory infections diagnosed within six hours - in a bid to identify the next Disease X. This is the name adopted by the World Health Organisation for a future, as yet unknown, pathogen which could cause another pandemic.

Scientists will use pioneering DNA testing technology in partnership with a life sciences company set up by Oxford University scientists. The testing by Oxford Nanopore is being rolled out at 30 NHS hospital and testing sites to slash the current time lag to identify new pathogens emerging in the UK both treat affected patients and to prevent their spread. As well as rare and infectious diseases, the test will also be used to diagnose rare cancers.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the new early warning system will “save countless lives”, adding: “If we fail to prepare, we should prepare to fail. Our NHS was already on its knees when the pandemic struck, and it was hit harder than any other comparable healthcare system. We cannot let history repeat itself. That’s why this historic partnership with Oxford Nanopore will ensure our world-leading scientists have the latest information on emerging threats at their fingertips.”

Experts agree another pandemic is bound to happen at some point and some experts predict a one in four chance of another outbreak on the scale of Covid-19 in the next decade. It could be influenza, another type of coronavirus or something completely new.

Genetic testing for specific, known conditions is already commonplace in the NHS. At the other end of the spectrum is “whole genome sequencing” which checks for thousands of conditions - but there is limited capacity for this and it can take three months to get a result.

Oxford Nanopore’s “long read DNA sequencing” is somewhere between the two and can quickly sequence long strands of DNA or RNA in one go, without breaking it up into smaller fragments. The Government says its speed and scale make it the first national early warning system for the next Disease X. The data will be fed into the UK Health Security Agency, Genomics England and NHS England.

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “During the Covid pandemic we saw the power of the UK life sciences sector very clearly, from the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine that saved so many lives, through to operating one of the world ’s most effective Covid surveillance systems, which spotted several emerging variants of the disease.

“This partnership will build on that expertise to monitor emerging diseases as they arise, putting our scientists and decision-makers one-step ahead and providing the information they need to make informed decisions. Together with the ability to better diagnose cancers and rare diseases, we are leveraging UK life sciences to protect the public and ultimately save lives.”

It follows an initial successful pilot at St Thomas’ Hospital before the testing technology was expanded to 10 NHS sites. Professor Dame Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer for England, said: “This strategic partnership will build upon our expertise in infectious disease genomics, representing a significant leap forward in our ability to protect public health and save lives.”

The UK is aiming to have vaccines and treatments for any new dangerous pathogen within 100 days of it being identified.

Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Early detection is absolutely crucial in enabling us to respond effectively to any emerging pathogen. As part of the 100 days mission, this will enable the development of effective diagnostics for novel pathogens and enhance our pandemic preparedness.”