Photo credit: Institut Pasteur

A recent Telegraph feature offers a compelling look into the world of global pathogen surveillance, following scientists into Cambodia’s bustling wet markets and vast bat caves as they hunt for the next pandemic threat. Along for the journey: a cutting-edge air sampling tool, the AirPrep™ Cub Sampler.

Their mission? To detect zoonotic pathogens, those that jump from animals to humans—such as coronaviruses, H5N1 bird flu, and other emerging, unidentified viruses that could potentially spark “Disease X,” a placeholder term used to describe a future, unknown pandemic-causing pathogen.

The work is led by a team of international researchers, including scientists from Institut Pasteur, supported by the FAO, the Gates Foundation, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Initially, the team used the now-discontinued ThermoFisher AerosolSense™ sampler, which proved challenging in field settings. “The AerosolSense sampler is less suitable for the great outdoors – it’s heavy, chunky, and requires a constant power source,” explained Dr. Siegers of Institut Pasteur.

To overcome these limitations, the team transitioned to the AirPrep™ Cub Sampler, a lightweight, battery-powered solution built for portability and real-world use in remote, rugged environments. Its compact design and dry filter collection format make it ideal for global pathogen discovery and rapid response efforts.

Read the full article:
From Coop to Cave: Inside the High-Tech Hunt for H5N1 and Disease X