Health Prevention and Response Policies Against Infectious Diseases: Is the World Ready for A Novel Coronavirus Pandemic?

Krasimira Valcheva

Abstract

Despite the significant scientific progress, in 21st century the world is not yet fully protected in case of infectious disease outbreaks. The pandemic caused by H1N1 in 2009 led to the adoption and update of various policies especially designed to increase the worlds’ preparedness for possible future global health threats. Renown international, regional and state organizations and institutions developed elaborated prevention and response plans that engage healthcare specialists, regulators, business and public in common frameworks that should ensure their coherent and coordinated actions when a health emergency arises. In the beginning of 2020 their effectiveness was put to a test by the novel coronavirus outbreak in China. It quickly transmitted over the globe and within less than two months affected thousands of people in more than 100 countries. The aim of the present study is to provide a comprehensive analytical review of the pre-existing counteraction measures against pandemics and how they are implemented in real situation. Is the world ready to respond to a novel virus pandemic? How efficient the prevention and response protocols prove to be in a real health emergency situation? Are the national states ready to act and defend their citizens and ease the negative economic impact? The answers of these questions will reveal if the world has learned the hard lessons from its previous experience with infectious diseases and what are the key adopted mechanisms on global, regional and national levels to limit their inevitable negative impact on the public and economic spheres.





Presentation