Scientist issues alert on upcoming global health crisis
In the ever-evolving landscape of global health, the world is grappling with the emergence of new pathogens, and the latest threat is the Chikungunya virus. While the virus has not yet demonstrated a devastating impact on the economy like COVID-19, it serves as a stark reminder of the need for continuous vigilance and robust pandemic prevention strategies.
The emergence of these new pathogens is facilitated by intensive livestock farming, global tourism, and exotic animal trade, but the Chikungunya virus, a new threat in the last 20 years, has not been linked to these factors.
The current global approach to preventing and managing future pandemics emphasizes coordinated, multisectoral strategies built on the "One Health" approach. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in pandemic emergence and response. Key elements of this global approach include:
- Multilateral frameworks and strategies led by WHO and partners: WHO is central in developing global strategies for prevention and control of epidemic-prone diseases, coordinating emergency vaccine stockpiles, and scaling these strategies regionally and nationally.
- The 100 Days Mission: Launched to ensure rapid development, production, and distribution of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines within 100 days of detecting a viral threat with pandemic potential.
- Integration of the ‘One Health’ approach: While not explicitly applied to the Chikungunya virus, the global pandemic prevention frameworks implicitly endorse the One Health concept, incorporating zoonotic disease surveillance and response to address spillover from wildlife and domestic animals.
- Core prevention strategies at individual and community levels: These include vaccination, hygiene practices, improved air quality, and prompt isolation and treatment to reduce spread.
- Strengthening sustainable health systems and learning from COVID-19: Evaluations aim to integrate lessons and sustain pandemic preparedness into long-term health investments.
- Challenges from policy and institutional disruptions: Despite advances, the dismantling of structures like the Office for Pandemic Preparedness and Response risks weakening coordinated national preparedness and international collaboration.
In China, over seven thousand cases of the Chikungunya virus have been registered, primarily in the country's largest manufacturing hub, Foshan. The Chinese government has implemented preventive measures similar to those during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, unlike respiratory viruses like SARS or COVID-19, the Chikungunya virus is not a respiratory virus, and thus its spread may not be as rapid.
Virologist Victor Zuev stated that Russia is unlikely to face a new lockdown due to the spread of the Chikungunya fever. This is a testament to the effectiveness of the global approach in managing the spread of new pathogens, but it also underscores the need for sustained global cooperation to address the challenges that lie ahead.
As we navigate the complexities of the Chikungunya virus and other emerging pathogens, the lessons learned from COVID-19 remain crucial. The devastating impact of pandemics, not only on health but also on the economy, cannot be underestimated. Experts like Malik Peiris, who discovered the SARS virus in 2003, continue to emphasize the need for a "one health" approach, which involves experts in human, animal, and environmental health working together to combat these threats.
In conclusion, the current global model for pandemic prevention and management is a collaborative, multisectoral system that combines early detection, rapid response capabilities, strategic stockpiles, and community-level prevention measures, all rooted in the One Health framework recognizing the human-animal-environment interface. However, gaps remain in policy commitment and infrastructure maintenance in some nations, underscoring the need for sustained global cooperation.
- The emergence of the Chikungunya virus, a new medical-condition in the last 20 years, presents a challenge that requires our concerted effort with the help of science and health-and-wellness strategies.
- In the fight against emerging pathogens like Chikungunya, it's evident that science, particularly the "One Health" approach which involves collaboration among human, animal, and environmental experts, plays a crucial role in managing these threats.
