Future pandemics are inevitable, experts warn
Three leading medical experts have warned that Covid-19 will not be the last global outbreak, saying the next pandemic will likely be caused by avian and swine flu viruses.  In a newspaper opinion piece on Wednesday, University of Hong Kong (HKU) microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung and his colleagues David Lung and Kelvin Chiu warned against complacency.  "Other than the coronavirus, influenza has the greatest potential to cause a pandemic. The next pandemic may be caused by avian and swine influenza viruses, with DNA shuffling possibly leading to serious infections, and even resistance to influenza drugs and seasonal flu vaccines," they wrote.  The trio said high-quality scientific research, rapid response plans, as well as epidemiological surveillance systems are key to preparing for future outbreaks.  Places with human and animal contact are key monitoring areas, with the focus being on wet markets and border control points, the professors added.  They also said HKU will form a "pandemic research alliance" with experts from around the world to track new infectious diseases.