Howdy folks, it’s time to talk about pandemics. You know, those pesky things that come around every once in a while, wreaking havoc on our bodies and our economies. Well, scientists and policymakers have been ringing the alarm bells, telling us to get our collective acts together and detect these infectious threats before they turn into full-blown pandemics.

In 2011, a report from the National Biosurveillance Advisory Subcommittee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the White House recommended some steps to reduce the risk of a pandemic. They called for global investments in science and people to create an early warning system for potential threats. This includes sampling humans, domestic animals, and wildlife for unknown viruses, and monitoring social media for clues to outbreaks. Basically, we need to be all over this like a cheap suit.

Now, if you ask me, wildlife markets should go the way of the dodo. Along with all trade in wildlife as food or pets, they should be banned. But, let’s be real, enforcing such a ban would be like herding cats. Accidental exposures would still happen, so we need to keep researching and identifying potential threats to human health and food security.

Public health authorities should keep an eye on people who are at risk of exposure to infectious diseases. That’s just common sense. We learned that lesson when the mpox outbreak went global after everyone got together for some good old-fashioned festival fun. By testing animal and human samples, we can detect and respond to cross-species transmissions. Plus, this will keep both the economy and public health in check. It’s cheaper than losing trillions of dollars in global GDP.

Laboratory-based research is crucial to fighting infectious diseases, but we need more regulations. Right now, we’re patchy at best, and that’s like driving on a pothole-filled road. The World Health Organization should gather the best and brightest to define the best practices for research with wildlife and infectious agents. Also, let’s keep a watchful eye on synthetic genomics, so we don’t create new viruses like some mad scientists.

A global surveillance system needs to be truly Global with a capital G. We need to focus on low- and middle-income countries, which tend to have higher risks of exposure. Countries with robust surveillance systems historically have been able to contain outbreaks quickly, while those without are suckers for pandemics. It’s a fundamental human right to have equal access to science and medicine. Plus, infectious diseases don’t care about borders, so it’s in our best interest to stop them from spreading.

We can’t just sit on our hands and talk about the origins of Covid-19. We need to implement programs and policies to stop the wildlife trade, regulate research that carries risks, and build a global surveillance system with data sharing. Let’s stop the next pandemic in its tracks and get back to business as usual.

Serious News: nytimes