New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group

New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group
Name	New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group
Type	Advisory committee
Formed	2014
Headquarters	London
Parent organization	Department of Health and Social Care

New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group is a United Kingdom advisory panel established to assess respiratory pathogen risks and provide strategic guidance. It produces technical advice for policymakers and liaises with public health agencies, scientific bodies, and international organizations. The group informs preparedness planning, surveillance strategies, and response measures for novel respiratory viruses.

History

The advisory panel was created following concerns raised after the 2012–13 influenza season and in the aftermath of the Ebola epidemic, mirroring recommendations from inquiries such as the 2014 UK Ebola response review and lessons drawn from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Early formation involved stakeholders from Public Health England, the Department of Health and Social Care, and academic partners including University of Oxford, Imperial College London, and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. The panel evolved in response to crises including the COVID-19 pandemic and reviews such as the UK COVID-19 Inquiry and independent reports by bodies like the National Audit Office.

Mandate and Functions

The group provides risk assessment and strategic recommendations to ministers, advising on threats posed by viruses like SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, and novel influenza A strains. It evaluates evidence from agencies including UK Health Security Agency, NHS England, and international institutions such as the World Health Organization and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Functions include horizon scanning, advising on non-pharmaceutical interventions informed by modelling from MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, and recommending criteria for vaccine strategy linked to manufacturers like GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca as well as regulators like the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Membership and Governance

Membership has included clinicians, virologists, epidemiologists, and immunologists drawn from institutions such as University College London, King's College London, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, Queen Mary University of London, and research institutes like the Francis Crick Institute and Wellcome Trust. Governance aligns with ministerial oversight via the Department of Health and Social Care and secretariat support from agencies including Public Health England and its successor UK Health Security Agency. Chairs and members have professional ties to organisations such as the Royal Society, Academy of Medical Sciences (United Kingdom), and advisory networks linked to NHS England and devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Activities and Assessments

The panel issues situational assessments on emerging pathogens, contributing to national documents such as pandemic preparedness plans used by NHS England, contingency planning within the Ministry of Defence for health protection, and cross-government exercises with agencies like the Cabinet Office. It synthesises data from surveillance systems including sentinel networks, genomic sequencing from centres like the COG-UK and collaborates with modelling groups at LSHTM and Imperial College London to forecast transmission scenarios. Outputs have informed policy on testing strategies, border controls linked to airports such as Heathrow Airport, and healthcare surge capacity in trusts like Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Coordination with National and International Bodies

The advisory panel operates alongside entities such as the World Health Organization, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the G7 and G20 health frameworks. Domestically it interacts with Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales, and the Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland), as well as regulatory bodies like the Health and Safety Executive (United Kingdom). International collaboration includes information exchange with laboratories such as the Institut Pasteur, CDC Atlanta, National Institute for Communicable Diseases (South Africa), and research partnerships with universities including Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and Karolinska Institutet.

Criticisms and Controversies

The group has faced scrutiny over transparency, composition, and timeliness of advice during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics have invoked inquiries including the UK COVID-19 Inquiry and commentary in outlets referencing investigations by the National Audit Office (United Kingdom) and parliamentary select committees such as the Health and Social Care Select Committee (UK). Debates have centred on links between advisory members and industry, comparisons with international advisory mechanisms like the ACIP and the European Medicines Agency, and the adequacy of recommendations during events such as the 2020 PPE shortages and initial testing scale-up tied to laboratory networks including PHE Colindale. Legal and ethical discussions referenced bodies such as the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

Category:United Kingdom public health