We describe the distribution of virus species by discovery date, transmissibility in human populations, non-human host range, and transmission route below. We provide a list of human-infective RNA viruses, cataloguing species currently recognised by the International Committee for the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV 8), and link this to metadata on seven different virus traits. Here, we present a snapshot of information available as of 21st July 2017, insofar as we have been able to ascertain it using the methodology described below. The catalogue can also change retrospectively as taxonomies are revised. The catalogue and metadata are subject to continual change, not only as new, human-infective RNA viruses are recognised or discovered but also as new information about their transmission routes, host range and other traits is reported in the scientific literature. It has also contributed to the World Health Organisation’s Blueprint for R&D preparedness and response to public health emergencies due to highly infectious pathogens 7. Chikungunya virus, Ebola virus and Zika virus all met the criteria prior to their actual emergence in 2005, 20 respectively. Third, they have been used to identify RNA viruses with future epidemic potential in human populations 2. Second, they have been used to identify traits associated with newly emerging viruses 3, 5.

First, to estimate the diversity of human-infective RNA viruses using two techniques, extrapolation of the virus discovery curve 4 and an ecological diversity measure 6.

This catalogue and metadata have been used in a number of ways. In addition to identifying human-infective viruses, we record a number of traits including the date of the first report of human infection, transmissibility in human populations, transmission route(s) and host range (all fully described below). Since then we have regularly refined our methodology and updated the catalogue as new human-infective RNA viruses are recognised and reported in the scientific literature 4, 5. Our research group first published a catalogue of human-infective RNA viruses (and other infectious agents) in 2001 3. In addition, RNA viruses are very prominent among the emerging infectious diseases: SARS coronavirus, Ebola virus and MERS coronavirus are recent, high profile examples 2. Infections due to RNA viruses such as influenza virus, measles virus, HIV-1 and rotavirus impose a huge public health burden, particularly in lower and middle income countries 1.

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