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Epidemics

World Must Act on Lessons Learned from COVID-19 to Prevent Future Pandemics

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the world commemorates World Zoonoses Day, which will be marked on July 6, it is essential to reflect on the successes of the first vaccine created against the zoonotic disease rabies developed by Louis Pasteur in 1885. The ongoing discussions at the World Health Organization (WHO) around a new pandemic prevention treaty show that the world is starting to act on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries have already taken steps to amend the International Health Regulations, which were found to be insufficient during the initial outbreak of COVID-19. However, with the recent monkeypox outbreak and emerging vector-borne health threats, time is of the essence to fully codify these learnings. A One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectivity of environmental, human, and animal health, offers the greatest chance of shoring up global defences against emerging diseases.

Key Takeaways:

  • The world must prioritize a One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnectivity of environmental, human, and animal health, to prevent future pandemics.
  • Countries should focus on creating a new One Health Preparedness Unit, which will bolster and unify international preparations against emerging disease outbreaks.
  • Existing resources, such as the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), USAID's PREDICT project, and the environmental health monitoring undertaken by non-profits like the EcoHealth Alliance, should be brought together in the most effective and efficient way.
  • New rules and protocols should be established to help products get to market faster to address acute and ongoing crises as part of any draft agreement.
  • Streamlining regulatory approval could dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes for vaccines to make their way into the hands of veterinarians, which will build the resistance of pets and livestock to disease outbreaks.
  • Governments should agree to fund and adopt new policies that expand global access to preventative animal health tools as part of any future pandemic prevention treaty.
  • Prevention of diseases is always better than cure, and more investment in preventative measures, particularly biosecurity on farms and diagnostic technologies, can reduce the frequency and severity of disease outbreaks.
  • Examples of successful disease prevention and control include Europe's ban on Q Fever and the UK's 87% reduction in salmonella outbreaks thanks to poultry vaccination.

Statistics:

  • An estimated 70% of emerging diseases originate from wild animals (nature.com).
  • The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for a One Health approach and showed that fast-tracking critical health tools, like vaccines, can save lives and help respond more rapidly to emerging pandemics.
  • A new One Health Preparedness Unit could bring together existing resources and have a greater capability to undertake wargame-style planning.
  • Streamlining regulatory approval could reduce the time it takes for vaccines to make their way into the hands of veterinarians by several months or years.
  • The UK reduced salmonella outbreaks by 87% from their 1992 peak thanks to poultry vaccination.
  • Europe has not seen the emergence of a major zoonotic disease since Q Fever more than a decade ago.

Sources:

  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • Nature: "Rabies virus"
  • Reuters: "First steps towards reforming global health emergency rules adopted at WHO meeting"
  • World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS)
  • USAID's PREDICT project
  • EcoHealth Alliance
  • Nature: "Q Fever"
  • Academic.oup.com: "Salmonella control in the UK"

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