{"id":2523,"date":"2020-05-21T08:13:05","date_gmt":"2020-05-21T08:13:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/?p=2523"},"modified":"2020-05-21T08:14:58","modified_gmt":"2020-05-21T08:14:58","slug":"epidemiologists-and-public-health-experts-see-opportunity-for-future-planning-amidst-corona-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/en\/weather-climate\/epidemiologists-and-public-health-experts-see-opportunity-for-future-planning-amidst-corona-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Health Experts see Opportunity for Future Planning amidst Corona Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Opportunity for Future Amidst Corona Crisis\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UjW_R5WRC7g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Improving Health Care Systems<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The corona crisis has exposed the\nfragility of many health care systems to experts and the general public around\nthe world. Some public health officials have viewed the recent crisis as a\nwake-up call for nations to invest in their healthcare systems. Dr. Negev of\nHaifa University says that \u201cfrom a public health or health systems perspective,\nwe can see how the coronavirus prepares us for future climate emergencies\nbecause we see how health care systems need to be prepared for periods with a\ngreat increase in morbidity.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Hagai Levin, Associate Professor of\nEpidemiology at the School of Public Health at Hebrew University-Hadassah in\nJerusalem, says that \u201csome countries will learn their lesson and invest for\nfuture pandemics, and some won&#8217;t. It&#8217;s not only funds but even just planning.\nThe key is to invest in strategies with co-benefits, which will either aid in\npromoting public health at regular times (for example better preparedness to\nseasonal influenza), or promote better preparedness for a wide variety of\nemergencies such as famine, earthquakes, and climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Uri Lerner, Scientific Director of <a href=\"http:\/\/midaat.org.il\/\">Midaat<\/a>,\nadds that the current pandemic \u201chas made the world understand that we need to\nbe prepared for pandemics by developing response strategies and purchasing\nmedical equipment for future use.\u201d He predicts that \u201cdeveloped countries that\nare suffering economically from lockdown policies will invest in future\nresponse and preparation\u201d to avoid a similar economic disaster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, he says that while it may be difficult to predict the frequency of future pandemics, \u201cwe should assume worst-case scenarios in order for states to behave properly. If we assume that global pandemics will remain a rare phenomenon, occurring once every 20 years, people will not be sufficiently careful and will be ill-prepared.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/hush-naidoo-ZCO_5Y29s8k-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/hush-naidoo-ZCO_5Y29s8k-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/hush-naidoo-ZCO_5Y29s8k-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/hush-naidoo-ZCO_5Y29s8k-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/hush-naidoo-ZCO_5Y29s8k-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/hush-naidoo-ZCO_5Y29s8k-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><em>Countries will have to invest more in their health care systems in order to be prepared for future outbreaks. Photo by&nbsp;Hush Naidoo&nbsp;on&nbsp;Unsplash<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Climate Change &amp; Anthropogenic Drivers<\/strong>&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some experts believe that climate change and anthropogenic\nfactors will increase the occurrence of global pandemics. In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=APwKOUGyVu4&amp;feature=youtu.be\">webinar<\/a> titled A\nTale of Two Crises: Corona and Climate Change, Dr. Negev mentions that vector\nair-food-water borne diseases in the region are expected to be influenced by\nclimate change as many disease vectors (agents that\ntransmit infectious diseases) such as mosquitos will be able to thrive\nin warmer and more humid climates. She says that this trend could potentially\ncontribute to the spread of certain diseases such as Malaria, Chikungunya, and\nWest Nile fever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Climate change may also expose humans and\nanimals to diseases that have not been encountered for thousands of years. As\nwarming causes permafrost in the arctic regions to thaw and glaciers to melt,\nsome scientists are concerned about the potential <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/melting-glaciers-thawing-permafrost-ancient-viruses-1486037\">release<\/a>\nof harmful pathogens that have been frozen and dormant for millennia. Citing\nthe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/goatsandsoda\/2016\/08\/03\/488400947\/anthrax-outbreak-in-russia-thought-to-be-result-of-thawing-permafrost\">case<\/a>\nof an anthrax outbreak in Siberia in the summer of 2016 which was thought to be\nthe result of a thawed reindeer carcass infected with the bacteria, Dr. Lerner\nsays that \u201cin this case, the exposure was relatively easy to isolate because it\noccurred in a remote area. Had it occurred in a more populated region or town\nwith regular transportation to larger cities, the damage could have been more\nextensive. They also lucked out because anthrax is a well-known pathogen. The\nsituation could have also been exacerbated if the pathogen had antibiotic\nresistance or if it had never been encountered by humans before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from climate change, the expansion of human settlements across the globe has also raised concern among public health experts. This trend, along with deforestation, will likely increase the contact between humans and wildlife, and thus, increase the possibility of bilateral transmission of diseases that have rarely or never been encountered (such as Covid-19). Dr. Negev stresses the importance of preventing or minimizing this contact. \u201cWe should protect ecosystems and prevent deforestation, intensified agriculture, urbanization, and wildlife hunting, all of which bring wild animals in closer contact with human beings,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ahmed-radwan-WNERw7Z-tMk-unsplash-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ahmed-radwan-WNERw7Z-tMk-unsplash-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ahmed-radwan-WNERw7Z-tMk-unsplash-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ahmed-radwan-WNERw7Z-tMk-unsplash-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ahmed-radwan-WNERw7Z-tMk-unsplash-1536x1017.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ahmed-radwan-WNERw7Z-tMk-unsplash-2048x1356.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><em>As warming causes permafrost in the arctic regions to thaw and glaciers to melt, some scientists are concerned about the potential release of harmful pathogens that have been frozen and dormant for millennia. Photo by&nbsp;Ahmed Radwan&nbsp;on&nbsp;Unsplash<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Future Monitoring And Response<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While some experts warn that these trends seem inevitable, there are ways to prevent or at least mitigate and control future pandemics. Dr. Levin suggests that \u201cwe need to focus on science and surveillance. We need to be on guard and measure how the environment impacts humans and how humans impact the environment. Scholars from various disciplines and countries must work together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Echoing similar thoughts, Dr.\nNegev says that the recent outbreak has \u201cvividly shown us that nations cannot\ncombat epidemics on their own. In the future, regional and international\ncollaborations will be needed for monitoring and surveillance, as well as for\nthe production and sharing of medical equipment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Dr. Lerner, it will become\n\u201cnecessary to produce an orderly global monitoring system for infectious\ndiseases to identify outbreaks as early as possible, even in countries that are\nnot sharing information (such as China) or that have limitations in\naccessibility to technological tools (such as in Africa, or various remote\nareas of Asia, and South America). International organizations will need to\nassume responsibility in guiding and producing tools in collaboration with\nthose countries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Lerner also suggests that international treaties dealing with pandemic guidelines should be drawn up in light of the recent crisis. Such treaties could allow an international body to \u201cforce a declared pandemic state to undertake a set of guidelines aimed at reducing the spread of disease within the territory and also prevent the spread of the disease to neighboring countries.\u201d In his opinion, such a treaty would establish protocols for regional and global responses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If anything, the corona pandemic has shed light on the importance of establishing public health and environmental protection as top priorities. According to Dr. Levin, \u201cpublic health is just as important to national and international security as military issues.\u201d Dr. Negev sees the corona crisis as \u201ca message for us to think about humans as part of the ecosystem and how we should all interact in more sustainable ways.\u201d&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This ZAVIT article was also published in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ynetnews.com\/health_science\/article\/S1sHcnqqI\">Ynetnews<\/a> on 05\/15\/2020.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Improving Health Care Systems The corona crisis has exposed the fragility of many health care systems to experts and the &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":2527,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10,9,8],"tags":[],"acf":[],"post-meta-fields":{"_edit_lock":["1590048832:11"],"_oembed_dd6a2bc3b7883470f8eaf57a9017b385":["<iframe title=\"Opportunity for Future Amidst Corona Crisis\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UjW_R5WRC7g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>"],"_oembed_time_dd6a2bc3b7883470f8eaf57a9017b385":["1590048787"],"_edit_last":["11"],"subtitle":["As COVID-19 continues to dominate headlines, public health experts have viewed this time as an opportunity to learn from the situation and plan for future pandemics that may arise from climate change and environmental degradation"],"_subtitle":["field_59d3d36ea7fe1"],"_wpml_media_duplicate":["1"],"_wpml_media_featured":["1"],"_thumbnail_id":["2527"]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2523"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/122"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2523"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2547,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2523\/revisions\/2547"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}