Breaking the chain: strengthening Europe's preparedness for disease outbreaks
Disease X refers to an unexpected and unknown outbreak of a contagious or infectious disease that could cause a pandemic similar in scale to COVID-19. As an elusive pathogen, we don't know if we can prevent the occurrence of Disease X, but we do know that from SARS to MERS, swine flu, Ebola, and avian influenza, animal-borne diseases have been the source of every major pandemic in the past century.
As a zoonotic disease is likely the prime candidate for the next pandemic, work should begin with a better understanding of the risks of emergence of zoonotic infectious diseases. Whilst the recently published WHO Pandemic Agreement calls on governments to take measures to identify and address drivers of infectious disease at the human-animal-environment interface, with the aim of early prevention of pandemics, the EU Preparedness Union Strategy makes no mention of animal health or zoonotic disease threats. The concrete role of the animal health sector in the EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) is also not yet clearly defined.
'One Health' — integrating human, animal and environmental health — is of course mentioned by both the WHO and HERA, but investment in the prevention of animal-borne diseases, or zoonoses, as well as veterinary science and animal health more generally, is all too often overlooked in preparedness planning.
A 2022 World Bank report estimated that investing US$10–11 billion annually in One Health prevention - including US$2.1 billion per year to bring public veterinary services up to international standards, and US$5 billion to improve farm biosecurity - could prevent pandemics that would carry vastly higher costs to manage and control. If we take the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, the International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook (IMF 2022) projected the cumulative output loss from the pandemic through 2024 to be about US$13.8 trillion.
COVID-19's enduring devastation serves as a stark reminder of a critical and persistent risk: the systemic neglect of animal health systems.
So, if we are serious about taking the necessary measures to prevent the next pandemic, we must learn from past failures and act both accordingly and decisively. This starts with better prioritising animal health for the benefits it can bring as our frontline of defence protecting against future pandemics.
In today's interconnected world, a health risk in one location, in one species, is a risk for all due to globalised markets and travel, and the ability of pathogens to spread through various means, including direct contact, indirect contact, airborne transmission, and via vectors like insects. To bolster global health security, it is imperative to incorporate binding infrastructure and workforce provisions, including veterinary capacity and flexible regulation for rapid response to disease outbreaks, into preparedness planning.
With over three-quarters of emerging infectious diseases coming from zoonotic pathogens, it is clear that we must enhance existing animal disease surveillance systems so they can identify potential threats to animal and human health in good time. We also need to increase the number of qualified vets and veterinary paraprofessionals and support animal owners' access to veterinary services. And with one in five farm animals lost due to disease each year, access to safe and effective vaccines and medicines for animals, as well ability to use these must be assured.
With Europe facing numerous outbreaks of animal diseases such as bird flu, foot-and-mouth disease, and bluetongue virus, there is a clear need to implement disease prevention programmes, endorse the use of preventive measures such as vaccines and parasite control, and enhance basic animal health care. Although bluetongue and FMD are not zoonotic, bird flu is. Fortunately the risk of human infection remains low, but it has been reported in dairy cattle in the US.
Without wishing to be alarmist, the EU and international governments need to realise that the more animals are affected by a disease, the greater the possibility for the virus to jump from mammal to mammal, and potentially also to people. Enhancing efforts in the field of animal disease prevention would not only reduce the huge socio-economic costs associated with a more reactive approach to disease outbreaks in animals, but they could also drastically reduce the potential One Health risks.
Investing in animal health is non-negotiable. It's one of the most effective, proactive and lucrative investment strategies for enhanced preparedness we can take to stop emerging diseases before they ever endanger people and their livelihoods.
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AMR occurs when germs no longer respond to antimicrobial treatments, and experts argue that further cooperation, transparency and improved procedures are needed to combat the deep-rooted problem. Serious cross-border threats Kicking off the discussion, Antonio Parenti, Director, Public Health, Cancer and Health Security, DG SANTE, European Commission, emphasised the critical role of the Regulation on serious cross-border threats to health (EU 2022/2371) which strengthens EU coordination and collaboration, prevention and preparedness, as well as beefing up different monitoring and surveillance mechanisms, serving as the backbone for future health security preparedness and cross-border health responses He explained that DG SANTE is intensifying collaboration with the relevant internal and external stakeholders through simulation exercises and is intensively working on improving the EU's rapid reaction capabilities, and is addressing the growing threat of AMR with unprecedented co-financing through the EU4Health Programme. Embedding health in the EU's Preparedness Strategy, where health is a vital societal function under the Union Preparedness Strategy, is essential, said Parenti 'Ensuring its resilience means boosting citizen readiness and strengthening civil-military health cooperation. A new Technical Working Group on civil-military collaboration under the Health Security Committee is paving the way for interoperable responses to crises, from pandemics to armed aggression and CBRN threats,' he added. Fragmented approaches Rohit Malpani, Senior Policy Advisor at the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP), called on the European Union to take a more proactive and integrated stance in addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), warning that current fragmented approaches may fall short in the face of future health crises. Malpani argued that 'The EU should introduce an end-to-end model for which the EU coordinates funding across research, clinical development, manufacturing and access.' He stressed that such a model would help avoid the pitfalls experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including shortages of medical technologies and counterproductive competition between member states. 'Instead of setting out incentives and hoping that the private sector will respond with what is required, it is critical that the EU and other countries take an active role in defining its needs and ensuring that those needs are met,' he added. Malpani also emphasised the need for adaptable funding and research models. 'Responding to AMR requires flexible funding, models, and R&D approaches: No single push funding or pull incentive will address all needs,' he said. 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Concluding on an optimistic note, Sokol stated: 'If we understand that healthcare and public health should be one of the priority sectors now in the EU, we can really make a difference, and that Europe can be much better prepared for future health crisis and also much less dependent on imports than it is now.' Central role of funding Emmanuel André, Co-Chair of the European Commission's Advisory Committee on Public Health Emergencies (ACPHE) and Professor of Clinical Microbiology at KU Leuven, underscored the central role of funding in Europe's ability to respond to future health threats. 'Funding is the key. If you want to get new medical countermeasures, antibiotics or therapeutics or vaccines, it is, as we say in French, 'nerf de la guerre.' It's really the key,' André said. He called for health to be prioritised in the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), urging the European Parliament, Council, and member states to ensure adequate budgetary support. 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Robust policy framework needed Huw Tippett, CEO of Shionogi Europe and board member since 2019, has urged policymakers to elevate health on the political agenda and implement robust frameworks to support antimicrobial innovation. Speaking on the pharmaceutical industry's role in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Tippett highlighted the economic and structural challenges that hinder progress. 'We need a robust policy framework, including the right funding mechanisms, as sometimes the business case doesn't add up for pharma companies. We need equity in terms of access. All in all, health needs to be higher up the political agenda,' he said. Founded nearly 150 years ago in Osaka, Shionogi is one of the few major pharmaceutical firms maintaining a long-standing commitment to anti-infective research, with over six decades of experience in antimicrobial development. Tippett pointed to the '100 Day Mission' as a strategic model for future preparedness. 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Euractiv
3 days ago
- Euractiv
Breaking the chain: strengthening Europe's preparedness for disease outbreaks
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