Resolve to Save Lives report shows how public
health specialists around the world controlled bird flu and other
outbreaks last year
NEW
YORK, June 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With the
highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu) spreading
worldwide, Finland provides a
lesson in how to bring an outbreak under control quickly. After a
deadly outbreak of H5N1 was found on a fur farm last summer, the
country's human and animal health authorities launched a joint
rapid response that ended the outbreak before any humans were
affected.
This is just one example of how public health specialists around
the world are stopping disease outbreaks in their tracks, before
they have a chance to make headlines. Today, Resolve to Save Lives
is releasing its "Epidemics that Didn't Happen" report, celebrating
six successful outbreak responses in 2023 and demonstrating the
transformative impact of sustained investment in epidemic
preparedness.
"Preparedness works. We can change the trajectory of an outbreak
when we invest in preparing for it and responding rapidly after it
has been detected," said Dr. Tom
Frieden, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives.
"While the hard work of epidemic preparedness and health protection
often goes unnoticed, it can mean the difference between a small
outbreak and a large epidemic."
Along with bird flu in Finland,
the report chronicles how public health workers stopped cholera in
Bangladesh, dengue fever in
Somalia, Lassa fever in
Ghana, Neethling disease in
Cambodia, and leptospirosis in
Vanuatu. In each case, investments
in health systems saved lives, prevented human suffering, and
safeguarded livelihoods. The report highlights lessons that can be
applied anywhere, to any health threat:
- Trusted health systems are the bedrock of epidemic
prevention: The most effective health systems are sensitive to
the needs of the local communities they serve, paying attention to
signals from community members and taking appropriate action in
response. This requires building deep, trusting relationships over
many years – not just engaging communities in a crisis. For
example, in Finland, strong
collaboration between human and animal health officials and fur
farmers proved pivotal to allowing a rapid and robust response to
the H5N1 outbreak on the fur farms.
- Timeliness is key to preventing full-scale epidemics:
Health systems that respond quickly to outbreaks see fewer deaths
and lower economic costs. In Bangladesh, a joint assessment and response
team receives an alert within 24 hours of any suspected or
confirmed case of cholera in one of the Rohingya refugee camps,
including details about the patient and location. As a target to
measure timeliness in responding to an outbreak, Resolve to Save
Lives champions 7-1-7: 7 days to detect a suspected outbreak, 1 day
to notify public health authorities, and 7 days to have all
essential control measures in place.
- Everyone has a role to play in outbreak detection and
response. From health care workers who serve as the link
between health systems and local communities to the farmers who
report suspicious symptoms in their livestock, the actions of
individuals can mean the difference between a contained outbreak
and a full-scale epidemic. In Cambodia, community rangers in a wildlife
sanctuary in Northern Cambodia
spotted the first case of Neethling in wild cattle, helping stop
spread of the disease.
The report also highlights a growing threat to global health:
climate change. Several of the outbreaks highlighted in the report
were associated with severe weather events, including cyclones,
flooding and unseasonal rains. With extreme weather expected to
become even more common in many areas already prone to outbreaks,
the need for responsive health systems is more urgent than
ever.
"While we witnessed successful responses to disease outbreaks
last year, there are far too many that we are still not ready for,"
said Amanda McClelland, Senior
Vice President, Prevent Epidemics at Resolve to Save Lives.
"Significant gaps in preparedness remain, particularly in low- and
middle-income countries. Leaving these gaps unchecked places all of
us in danger."
The World Bank's new Pandemic Fund will bring additional
resources for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
Still, global funding falls short of what is needed to respond to
outbreaks quickly and effectively. Recent research co-authored by
Resolve to Save Lives found that it would cost approximately
$124 billion over five years to
make the world better prepared for disease threats – a relative
bargain compared to the estimated $20
trillion that COVID-19 cost the global economy. In addition
to funding, effective implementation on the ground is required to
prevent epidemics and save lives.
This is the third edition of Resolve to Save Lives' "Epidemics
That Didn't Happen" report. It was developed in collaboration with
health ministries and global health and environmental organizations
including the World Health Organization, the International
Federation of the Red Cross, and the Wildlife Conservation
Society.
Read the full report at
https://etdh.resolvetosavelives.org/2024/
About Resolve to Save Lives:
Resolve to Save Lives is
a not-for-profit organization partnering with countries,
communities and organizations to prevent 100 million deaths from
cardiovascular disease and make the world safer from epidemics. To
find out more, visit: resolvetosavelives.org or X @ResolveTSL.
Media Contact:
General inquiries, Resolve to Save Lives:
press@resolvetosavelives.org
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SOURCE Resolve to Save Lives