Experts Warn of Two Animal Viruses That Could Spark Next Pandemic in New York

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Infectious disease researchers are sounding an early warning about two animal-origin viruses - influenza D and a form of canine coronavirus - that could become serious threats to human health if left unchecked. The viruses are showing signs of crossing species barriers and adapting in ways that could make human infection easier, while most of the global population has little to no immunity to them.

Why it matters

The early identification of these potentially dangerous viruses echoes lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about how quickly a pathogen can spread once it jumps from animals to people. Experts stress that stronger monitoring, better tests, and vaccines are needed before these viruses become a major public health problem.

The details

The influenza D virus is common in livestock like cattle and pigs, while the canine coronavirus has already been linked to human respiratory illness in parts of Asia and the United States. Researchers warn that surveillance for these viruses is currently lagging, even as they show signs of adapting to more easily infect humans.

• In January 2026, a new analysis on these emerging animal viruses was published in the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal.
• New York State recently joined the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak and Response Network to strengthen its role in global public health preparedness and response.

What’s next

New York's joining of the WHO's Global Outbreak and Response Network will strengthen the state's role in global public health preparedness and response efforts to monitor and address these emerging animal-origin viruses.