<
https://theconversation.com/the-costly-lesson-from-covid-why-elimination-should-be-the-default-global-strategy-for-future-pandemics-197806>
"Imagine it is 2030. Doctors in a regional hospital in country X note an
expanding cluster of individuals with severe respiratory disease. Rapid
whole-genome sequencing identifies the disease-causing agent as a novel
coronavirus.
Epidemiological investigations suggest the virus is highly infectious, with
most initial cases requiring hospitalisation. The episode bears a striking
resemblance to the COVID outbreak first detected in December 2019.
Regional and national health authorities are notified quickly. The national
contact point for the International Health Regulations 2024 (a major revision
to the current IHR 2005) sends a description to the World Health Organization
(WHO). After an intense exchange of information and risk assessment, it
declares a public health emergency of international concern.
The outbreak is assigned a response strategy of “elimination”. This designation
initiates a well-rehearsed procedure, including mobilising expertise and
resource stockpiles.
The elimination response results in localised quarantine measures at the
epicentre and its surrounds and a travel freeze across a wide radius within
country X and at its borders. It also prompts intensified local and
international surveillance. Case numbers rise rapidly but plateau after three
weeks, and then fall until no new cases are detected in the community.
After eight weeks of intensive efforts the outbreak is over – similar to the
experience of New Zealand, which terminated its initial COVID outbreak in eight
weeks using an elimination strategy. The outbreak had spread regionally within
country X, but not internationally.
This is how we propose, in
The Lancet, the world should respond to future
pandemic threats."
Via Cass M, who wrote "Seems common sense but…why wait? Corona viruses are
known to be airborne and an ounce [of] prevention is [worth] a pound of cure.
Fund air sanitising through UV light and HEPA filtration in public indoor
spaces - especially schools."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
