News Outlets Examine Risk Of Pandemic Disease Outbreak

CNN: Seven reasons we’re at more risk than ever of a global pandemic
“…Public health experts believe we are at greater risk than ever of experiencing large-scale outbreaks and global pandemics like those we’ve seen before: SARS, swine flu, Ebola, and Zika. … Experts are unanimous in the belief that the next outbreak contender will most likely be a surprise — and we need to be ready…” (Senthilingam, 4/3).

International Business Times: When Will The Next Epidemic Be? Global Pandemic Risk Greater Than Ever
“…An increasing world population moving closer together amid more urbanization than ever before creates an easier scenario for a potential disease to be transmitted, [Jimmy Whitworth, professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,] said. Humans moving into previously undisturbed territories mean new animals transmitting new infections, while global travel means faster and easier movement of diseases. Civil unrest hinders a country’s ability to respond to a health crisis, while fewer doctors and nurses in developing regions mean those areas likely won’t be able to adequately combat a disease. Climate change and its consequent natural disasters like floods mean an increase in vector-borne illnesses like those carried by mosquitos…” (Pignataro, 4/4).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

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