Preparing for the next pandemic
It is important for the government to support science and public health leadership, which translates to providing funding for much needed research, setting up a system and building resources so there can be supplies for testing and the capability to respond early to possible outbreaks.
there are experts and scientists who say that the pandemic we are experiencing will not be the last, and that we need to do what we can right now to prepare for the next outbreak even as we struggle to go through this one. dr. Aaron Bernstein, the director of the Center for Climate, health, and the Global environment at the harvard t.h. Chan School of Public health in Boston USA, shared advice as to what we can do to prevent future outbreaks.
It is important for the government to support science and public health leadership, which translates to providing funding for much needed research, setting up a system and building resources so there can be supplies for testing and the capability to respond early to possible outbreaks.
Dr. Bernstein underlines the link between climate change and pandemics, saying that climate action like preventing deforestation can help slow biodiversity loss and animal migration. The latter could cause the spread of infectious diseases. As far as wildlife is concerned, illegal trade must be controlled at all costs.
Agricultural practices also need to be reviewed. Raising thousands or even millions of animals in close quarters is risky as this can cause disease transmissions between animals and humans. On the level of the individual, eating less meat seems like a good decision to make at this point. It does not just benefit the body, it’s also good for the environment and public health.
When we take action to clean our air by not burning fossil fuels, for example, we are also protecting the health of the people. Developing low-carbon technologies and decreasing greenhouse-gas emissions are definitely good for our physical health. We can see how environmental health and the health of our bodies are inexorably linked—when we take care of Mother Earth, we are also looking after our own bodies and the health of everyone living on the planet.
Finally, Dr. Bernstein argues that adequate preparation for the next outbreak has to do with keeping citizens generally healthy. People need to be more mindful about their diet, exercise, sleep, and stress levels. The problem about air pollution definitely needs to be addressed, and one step forward is to generate electricity from low-carbon energy sources like wind and solar. Harmful air pollutants like nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide may be lessened if we do this. If our bodies are strong, there is a bigger chance of averting death or serious illness in case another pandemic happens.
Our old solutions will not work anymore as the world changes and faces new problems. The world’s increasing populations and crowded megacities will present problems that must be faced with forward-looking solutions that are based on science.