The post_content contains thoughts on the lack of a universally-agreed definition of a pandemic, despite negotiations for new agreements for centralized pandemic management. The post discusses the history of pandemics, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the controversy surrounding the H1N1 Swine flu declaration as a pandemic. It also delves into the etymology of the word “pandemic” and the evolving understanding of what constitutes a pandemic. He references another text on the WHO website, which stated that even in the best-case scenario of an influenza pandemic, it would result in 4 to 30 times more deaths than seasonal influenza. Additionally, the WHO considers the Asian flu of 1957–1959 and the Hong Kong flu of 1968–1970 as pandemics, despite not being exceptionally severe. This raises questions about the severity that should be associated with the label of “pandemic.” The definition of a pandemic remains a topic of debate, with some arguing that it should imply a certain level of severity to justify the distinction from ongoing public health programs. The tension between defining pandemics appropriately continues, with some examples such as Swine flu causing fewer deaths than a typical influenza season, and diseases like SARS-1, MERS, Zika, and Ebola being used to illustrate an increase in perceived pandemic risk, despite their relatively low death tolls. The definition of a pandemic has evolved over time, with different organizations using varying criteria to classify a disease as a pandemic. The concept of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is distinct from a pandemic, with specific criteria outlined by the International Health Regulations (IHR). The power to declare a PHEIC lies with the WHO Director-General, and proposed amendments to the IHR may further define the scope and response to such emergencies. The global response to pandemics, such as COVID-19, highlights the complex interplay between biological factors and socio-economic contexts in determining disease burden. The discussion around pandemics and PHEICs continues to evolve as new challenges emerge in public health emergencies. However, the median age in Sub-Saharan Africa is 18 years and only three percent of the population is 65 or older. So, tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS, affecting far younger populations in these countries, are their health priorities. Cholera was also regarded as a pandemic in the past when affecting wealthier populations and has now been largely forgotten in high- and middle-income countries. Meanwhile, the cholera bacterium still causes outbreaks in places like Haiti where people have poor access to clean water and sanitation.
Getting this right is essential. By focusing on relatively low-burden pandemics that affect the whole planet, including wealthy populations, we unavoidably shift the focus from high-burden diseases afflicting low-income populations. This raises fairness concerns and contrasts the rhetoric on equity used in the draft Pandemic Agreement. It might therefore make sense to shift the focus from pandemics to health emergencies of international concern, which may be geographically limited, as in the case of Ebola. Doing so may allow resources to be mobilized proportional to risk and need, rather than investing vast amounts of money, time, and social capital into an obscure pandemic preparedness agenda that struggles to even define its aims.
Continuously conflating the concept of pandemic preparedness and PHEIC only creates confusion while obscuring the obvious political processes involved. If the WHO wants to convince the world to prepare for pandemics and calm down fears of potential misuse of the pandemic label via a new governance process, then they need to provide clarity on what they are actually talking about.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Please rewrite the following sentence:
“The new policy will be implemented starting next month.”
“The new policy is scheduled to be put into effect next month.”
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