Why is it important to be prepared for pandemics?

It is without question that global health has always been an absolutely essential field of study. The Washington University of St. Louis coins global health to be “an area for study, research and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide” [5]. As an interdisciplinary field, global health focuses on health issues that transcend borders, their determinants and possible solutions. In the context of epidemics and pandemics, it is clear that infectious disease knows no borders. Pandemics are a natural occurrence, and it is incredibly important for nations to remain prepared to the best of their capacity to respond to epidemics and pandemics in order to protect the health of their residents at all times. This sub-field of global health is otherwise known as global health security. New diseases have the potential to emerge without foresight, taking less than 36 hours for a disease to spread from one region of the world to another due to the globalized nature of our economies [1]. No matter how secure an individual nation may seem, the ability to travel freely around the world increases our risk of  disease spread and emphasizes the need for strong public health infrastructure. In the 2000’s alone, H1N1 (swine flu), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Ebola, Zika and Covid-19 emerged. Pandemics are not new. They will not be history. There is a need for continuous research and monitoring of novel infectious diseases to prevent epidemics or contain epidemics at their source, which in turn prevents the transition to a pandemic. 

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When a disease is widespread within a community or specific area, that is called an epidemic. Epidemics are not only specific to infectious diseases; they also include chronic illnesses and addictions (i.e. The Opioid Epidemic in the US). Once a disease transcends a community and affects multiple countries at a significant enough rate, it is classified as a pandemic [5]. With the globalized nature of our economy, where one nation depends on the stability of another nation for successful trade, manufacturing and investments, pandemics are a major economic threat [4]. We are witness to millions of people currently being laid off, furloughed or unable to find employment. Our lack of preparedness for pandemics is largely to blame for such devastating economic and social loss. Global health matters. Pandemic preparedness (or the lack thereof) has the potential to directly affect you. We must hold our government accountable and urge for the strengthening of public health infrastructure. 

 

But what is public health infrastructure? In order to assure the health of a nation, there must be an establishment and continued maintenance of public health infrastructure. It requires collaborative efforts across public and private sectors and the alignment of governmental agencies’ policy and practice at local, state and national levels. A weak public health infrastructure places the entire public in danger, as seen in 2001 by the United States’ inadequate response to an anthrax bioterrorism threat, which lacked coordinated communication among federal, state and local leaders [6]. The United States lacks comprehensive national health policy with the potential to utilize both the public and private sectors in a coordinated effort. Federal and state governments share a responsibility to assure the public health, and without public health policy that allows for coordinated efforts to happen, it endangers the health of everyone involved. Private and public sectors are pitted against each other. This needs to change. 

 

For health security and economic security, it is critical that we are prepared for pandemics not only during a pandemic, but significantly before the emergence of a pandemic. To minimize the social, political and wrestling economic impact of an epidemic, risk communication is key [3]. As Bill Gates said in a speech to US policymakers, “Dollar for dollar, global health is America’s best investment for saving lives.” [2]

 

Global health is for everyone. We all need to care. It could save your life during a pandemic. This is why the United States needs to be held accountable and significantly change its approach to public health. 

 

REFERENCES:

1. About Global Health Security. (2019, August 19). Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/healthprotection/ghs/about.html

2. Bill and Melinda Gates: Global Health is "America's Best Investment for Saving Lives" - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (2009, October 28). Retrieved from https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases/2009/10/Bill-and-Melinda-Gates-Global-Health-is-Americas-Best-Investment-for-Saving-Lives

3. Managing Epidemics. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/managing-epidemics-interactive.pdf

4. Principles of Epidemiology. (2012, May 18). Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dsepd/ss1978/lesson1/section11.html

5. Public Health and Global Health Definitions. (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://publichealth.wustl.edu/public-health-and-global-health-definitions/

6. National Academies Press. (2003). The future of the publics health in the 21st century. Washington, DC.

7. Breindl, Anette (2020, February 28). Bench Press for Feb. 28, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.bioworld.com/articles/433393-bench-press-for-feb-28-2020.

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