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A non-profit organization committed to epidemic preparedness has published a new report titled, 'Epidemics that Didn’t Happen,' which celebrates six successful outbreak responses in 2023.
This report follows their previous estimate that a $124 billion investment in epidemic preparedness over five years could save the global economy trillions of dollars, a relatively small cost compared to the estimated $20 billion impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report emphasizes the effectiveness of proactive measures in preventing widespread illness and economic devastation.
One example highlighted in the report is the rapid containment of a Lassa fever outbreak in Accra, Ghana, in February 2023.
After a market trader died from severe bleeding and her healthcare provider fell ill, public health officials swiftly identified the disease.
The Ghana Health Service responded promptly by locating over two hundred individuals who had been in contact with the trader and educating the public on Lassa fever’s symptoms.
Their decisive actions led to the identification of 27 additional cases and the containment of the outbreak, preventing its spread to neighboring countries and averting further fatalities.
This incident illustrates how effective preparedness can halt outbreaks before they escalate, as emphasized in the report.
President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, Dr. Tom Frieden, stated, “Preparedness works. We can change the trajectory of an outbreak when we invest in preparing for it and responding rapidly after it has been detected.”
He also emphasized the crucial role of epidemic preparedness and health protection in preventing small outbreaks from turning into large epidemics.
The report also details how public health workers successfully stopped not only Lassa fever in Ghana but also cholera in Bangladesh, dengue fever in Somalia, H5N1 (bird flu) in Finland, Neethling disease in Cambodia, and leptospirosis in Vanuatu.
