Be proactively prepared for pandemic outbreaks

PANDEMICS that broke out worldwide caused severe impacts on humans and significantly harmed social and economic development. However, some countries failed to learn lessons from outbreaks of communicable diseases such as SARS, avian influenza, Zika, Ebola, and others, which hindered their ability to manage more infectious viruses.

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of disease prevention, research, and prompt response systems for infectious diseases. These pandemics have claimed millions of lives worldwide. However, humanity has worked to overcome these challenges by controlling virus infections. Since pandemics can emerge anywhere, international cooperation is essential for effective responses.” In human history, Covid-19 was one of the most infectious and fastest-spreading diseases. Variants of the virus contributed to a rise in the fatality rate. According to a report by the World Health Organization, a total of 777 million people worldwide had been infected by the pandemic as of early December 2024, resulting in more than seven million deaths. Additionally, over 115,000 healthcare workers lost their lives while caring for patients during the first 18 months of the outbreak.

Currently, some Southeast Asian countries are facing outbreaks of infectious viruses, namely norovirus and human metapneumovirus. These viruses can cause symptoms such as gastroenteritis, non-bloody diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and cold-like respiratory issues. Therefore, people should prepare to respond to these viruses by wearing masks when going outside and washing their hands with soap before in at least 20 seconds and after coming into contact with any substances.

Health officials must disseminate timely information about infectious viruses to the public. Efforts should focus on preventive measures to avoid outbreaks that could escalate into pandemics. Public participation is essential in controlling infectious diseases, making it crucial for authorities to raise awareness promptly. On the other hand, health organizations need to release guidelines for the people to lessen the impacts of pandemics and save the lives of the people.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for greater global efforts in preventive measures and response programs to address potential viral outbreaks. It is essential to learn from past events and prepare effectively for future pandemics. UN member states are committed to ensuring inclusive, equal, and non-discriminatory participation, with particular attention to vulnerable groups who are at higher risk of infection. As new pandemics continue to emerge worldwide, global unity is crucial in responding to and controlling these viruses to reduce infections and save lives.

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