Emerging infectious diseases and pandemic potential: status quo and reducing risk of global spread

Abstract

Emerging infectious diseases are an important public health threat and infections with pandemic potential are a major global risk. Although much has been learned from previous events the evidence for mitigating actions is not definitive and pandemic preparedness remains a political and scientific challenge. A need exists to develop trust and effective meaningful collaboration between countries to help with rapid detection of potential pandemic infections and initiate public health actions. This collaboration should be within the framework of the International Health Regulations. Collaboration between countries should be encouraged in a way that acknowledges the benefits that derive from sharing biological material and establishing equitable collaborative research partnerships. The focus of pandemic preparedness should include upstream prevention through better collaboration between human and animal health sciences to enhance capacity to identify potential pathogens before they become serious human threats, and to prevent their emergence where possible. The one-health approach provides a means to develop this and could potentially enhance alignment of global health and trade priorities.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: current knowledge and future considerations

“…Public health authorities, clinicians and academic scientists must work even more closely together to discover and report relevant data to public health authorities through official channels (111). Global understanding of the epidemiology and treatment for MERS-CoV has improved since the novel outbreak in 2012; however, greater attention should be paid to more-effective prevention.…”

“…Global understanding of the epidemiology and treatment for MERS-CoV has improved since the novel outbreak in 2012; however, greater attention should be paid to more-effective prevention. Further emphasis should include upstream prevention through better interdisciplinary collaboration and communication on all aspects of health care for humans, animals and the environment to improve capacity to identify potential pathogens before they become human threats and to prevent their emergence where possible (111). Some initiatives are showing promise: the One Health Initiative (112) approach, for example, provides a means for interdisciplinary collaboration and communication in all aspects of health care for humans, animals and the environment and could promote the alignment of priorities in global health.…”

One world, one health? Social science engagements with the one health agenda

“…But we need to be watchful of old habits and new interests in these alliances. When one set of influential authors state that "The one-health approach (…) could potentially enhance alignment of global health and trade priorities" (McCloskey, Osman et al 2014: 1001) then we start to take notice of slippages between partnerships and sometimes hidden assumptions regarding economic growth and liberal governance.…”

Earlier detection of public health risks – Health policy lessons for better compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005): Insights from low-, mid- and high-income countries

“…Combating public health risks has been a primary goal of healthcare systems worldwide for the better part of two centuries, as they pose significant threats to health security [1,2]. Despite extensive measures that were developed and implemented to reduce outbreaks of pandemics and epidemics, global surveillance and monitoring systems have witnessed a rise in the number of such events [1,3,4].…”