The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how ill-prepared the world was to detect and respond to global health threats. With over 7·1 million lives lost,1 more than US$4·7 trillion in economic damage,2 profound disruptions to education and livelihoods, and impacts on mental health, the pandemic exposed weak response capacities and the absence of effective systems to anticipate risk. As countries continue to face pandemic-related aftershocks—rising debt, interrupted human capital, and growing geopolitical instability—threats from climate change, conflict, and technological disruption are only accelerating. The world must be prepared for and prevent future pandemics. Central to achieving these goals is effective monitoring and assessment of pandemic risks. Without the ability to monitor emerging risks in real time, countries will remain vulnerable to future shocks, no matter how much is invested in response.
BT - The Lancet DO - 10.1016/s0140-6736(25)01489-8 LA - eng M3 - Comment N2 -The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how ill-prepared the world was to detect and respond to global health threats. With over 7·1 million lives lost,1 more than US$4·7 trillion in economic damage,2 profound disruptions to education and livelihoods, and impacts on mental health, the pandemic exposed weak response capacities and the absence of effective systems to anticipate risk. As countries continue to face pandemic-related aftershocks—rising debt, interrupted human capital, and growing geopolitical instability—threats from climate change, conflict, and technological disruption are only accelerating. The world must be prepared for and prevent future pandemics. Central to achieving these goals is effective monitoring and assessment of pandemic risks. Without the ability to monitor emerging risks in real time, countries will remain vulnerable to future shocks, no matter how much is invested in response.
PB - Elsevier BV PY - 2025 T2 - The Lancet TI - Unifying forces to strengthen pandemic preparedness: a call for a Global Pandemic Risk Observatory UR - https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01489-8/abstract?dgcid=raven_jbs_aip_email SN - 0140-6736 ER -