Epidemic Response Needs an Overhaul
Epidemics are not new to humankind. The Plague of Justinian in 541 AD, the black plague, the WWI flu pandemic – each killed tens of millions. HIV/AIDS has killed more than 36 million people since it was discovered in 1981. Throughout human history, epidemic diseases are estimated to have claimed over 200 million lives.
Increased global efforts
Over the past few decades an increasing number of research groups and academic institutions have been created that are dedicated to stopping infectious diseases. International policies have been drafted and there have been major scientific breakthroughs.
In 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the eradication of smallpox, a virus that is thought to have infected humans for millennia, following tremendous global efforts in research and mass immunization. This was the first time that humans deliberately eradicated a virus.
Ebola response weak
The West African Ebola outbreak raises important and urgent questions. Why were the initial cases met with such a slow and unprepared response? The first Ebola outbreak was reported in 1976; the disease is not new.
It’s not just Ebola – other epidemic diseases provide constant reminders that we need new and more innovative ways of responding. Although the first cholera pandemic occurred in 1817, outbreaks still occur almost every year, mostly in Africa. The death toll is usually greatest in areas that lack the money, trained medical personnel, and infrastructure needed to detect outbreaks at their onset and to respond appropriately.
In January of this year the WHO reported a steady decline in cases of Ebola in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Then in late March these same countries warned of a possible resurgence of new cases, and President Alpha Conde of Guinea recently declared a 45-day “health emergency” in five regions.
The Ebola epidemic is a global concern. The WHO International Health Regulations are a legally binding agreement to prevent the international spread of disease, through which each of 194 state parties “has new obligations to prevent and control the spread of disease inside and outside their borders”. As populations become more interconnected, and business increasingly globalized, outbreaks are no longer local.
Opportunities for innovation
There is demand for more integrated responses, and better ways of detecting and preventing epidemics before they make the news. There are calls for more efficient management of existing resources, and faster and more cost-effective deployment. We need to ensure not only quantity, but – importantly – quality of care.
Advances in mobile and electronic health technology, sensors, diagnostics and genomics start to offer possibilities. Social entrepreneurs coming from, or working directly with, affected communities in co-participatory models, start to expose some of the needed innovations, not only in terms of products, services, and delivery of care, but of new business models. During the Ebola outbreak, strong leadership from local health workers and government representatives reminded the world of the compelling role of community participation – these are voices that should be heard more often.
Effective data analytics can play a crucial role in helping detect and prevent future outbreaks, particularly if coupled with emerging health technologies. This could feed into existing initiatives, such as the WHO´s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network.
Analytics can also serve as a basis for evidence-driven policy-making, efficient resource allocation, and better healthcare management.
It is of utmost importance to understand the lessons that can be drawn from the Ebola outbreak, and above all, what measures can be taken to avert future epidemics.
