Preparing for the Next Pandemic

Periodic influenza outbreaks over the past few centuries have resulted in high mortality and enormous damage. Unfortunately, according to Dr. Michael T. Osterholm, the world is still grossly under-prepared to cope with such pandemics. Recent concerns over the possibility of a large avian flu outbreak mean that this global lack of response capability to public health crises is an urgent problem. Flu vaccines remain difficult to produce in large quantities, governments are not investing enough in emergency plans for public health threats, and the public – including many health professionals – remains undereducated about how to act in the event of a crisis. If a significant outbreak were to occur soon, the result would likely be a complete freeze in global travel and trade, mass panic, and many fatalities. According to Osterholm, increased investments in public health will help to ensure that the newest global disease threat can be contained. – YaleGlobal