The answers for two questions on ‘epidemic potential’ (see Table 2 ) were pre‐filled by EFSA, as they could be objectively answered, to reduce the MSs' workload. However, respondents were given the chance to change those answers given in case they disagreed with them.
For the question on ‘likelihood of human‐to‐human transmission’, ‘high’ was assigned to diseases with airborne transmission (e.g. COVID‐19). ‘Medium’ was assigned to diseases transmitted through contact, which does not necessarily need to be close contact. Such diseases may result in outbreaks (e.g. Ebola virus disease). ‘Low’ was assigned to diseases requiring close contact with an infected person or their body fluids. Such diseases may result in single cases, especially among family members or caregivers (e.g. Q‐fever, glanders). ‘No or negligible human‐to‐human transmission’ was assigned when the disease was not considered transmissible between humans or transmission was only possible through the placenta, blood transfusion or organ donation.
For the question on ‘adaptability of the agent’, ‘slow’ was assigned to bacteria, parasites and DNA viruses, while ‘fast’ was assigned to most RNA viruses. The distinction by pathogen type was made due to the difficulty in finding information on respective mutation rates or cut‐off values used.
For the question on ‘likelihood of human‐to‐human transmission’, ‘high’ was assigned to diseases with airborne transmission (e.g. COVID‐19). ‘Medium’ was assigned to diseases transmitted through contact, which does not necessarily need to be close contact. Such diseases may result in outbreaks (e.g. Ebola virus disease). ‘Low’ was assigned to diseases requiring close contact with an infected person or their body fluids. Such diseases may result in single cases, especially among family members or caregivers (e.g. Q‐fever, glanders). ‘No or negligible human‐to‐human transmission’ was assigned when the disease was not considered transmissible between humans or transmission was only possible through the placenta, blood transfusion or organ donation.
For the question on ‘adaptability of the agent’, ‘slow’ was assigned to bacteria, parasites and DNA viruses, while ‘fast’ was assigned to most RNA viruses. The distinction by pathogen type was made due to the difficulty in finding information on respective mutation rates or cut‐off values used.
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