Quote:
The basic message here is that large-scale pandemics are relatively likely to happen, the authors say. And because of that, we should be doing more to prevent them or to blunt their impact when they do arrive. “We obviously show the potential threat of global pandemics, but the real implication here is how do we invest more effectively in global health and pandemic preparedness?” Pan said.
Pan said scientists should be studying the ongoing global response to covid-19, in order to determine the approaches that should be followed or avoided in the future, while recognizing that some interventions may not work for all future pandemic threats (masks may not be needed, for instance, depending on how the hypothetical pandemic spreads). We also need more teamwork between countries, ideally aided by existing structures like the United Nations and World Health Organization.