Focusing on VIGILANCE & PREPAREDNESS

Despite advances in development of countermeasures such as diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines, world travel and increased global interdependence have added layers of complexity to containing infectious diseases.

- Dr Manbeena Chawla

COVID-19, an outcome of weaponisation by genetic manipulation as part of ‘gain of function’ research, had brought the entire world to its knees in less than six months. Now, researchers and policymakers are being more vigilant towards surveillance and management of emerging infectious disease threats, and revisit global mechanisms for the control of pandemic disease. In addition to other countries across the globe, 2021 saw many initiatives taken by the APAC region to strengthen their capacities for effective preparedness and for the prevention of new and existing infectious diseases.

Infectious diseases have been increasing in frequency during the past few decades. These include recurring outbreaks caused by influenza and Ebola viruses; diseases that have dramatically increased their range and impact such as Chikungunya and Zika viruses; and outbreaks caused by novel pathogens such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-1 (SARS-CoV-1) in 2002 and SARS-CoV-2 in 2019–20, the virus responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic.

A section of experts attribute this to unlawful and potentially dangerous ‘gain of function’ research which, among other reasons, looks to ‘weaponise’ the naturally occurring viruses. More recently, Bill Gates announced the successful development of a vaccine against smallpox (a disease already eradicated) in the (un)likely event of a bioterror attack using the smallpox virus. The unprecedented scale and rapidity of dissemination of recent emerging infectious diseases pose new challenges for vaccine developers, regulators, health authorities and political constituencies.