Emerging infectious diseases and pandemic responsiveness

Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases have been a constant threat throughout human history. An estimated 70% of emerging infectious diseases are thought to be zoonoses. Global urbanization and technological advances continue to change the way we interact with our environment, augmenting the risk of rapid spread, as seen with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) globally in 2020. Meanwhile multifaceted issues such as climate change, human–wildlife interactions, mis- and disinformation and geopolitical instability can impact the risk of an emerging infectious disease through shifting transmission dynamics and/or undermining of public health and medical countermeasures. Mis/disinformation and reduced public trust after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic reduce engagement with medical countermeasures for endemic infections, while poor public and healthcare worker awareness around antimicrobial resistance increases the risk of a worsening ‘silent pandemic’. Greater collaboration is urgently required across ‘One Health’, by academic, private and political stakeholders, to reduce the social inequities of emerging infectious disease and build a resilient and responsive global security.