THE NOVEL coronavirus or sars-cov-2, that caused the covid-19 pandemic, continues to wreak havoc across countries even five years after it first struck the world. It remains a pandemic even though the World Health Organization (who) in May 2023 declared an end to covid-19 as a public health emergency. So far, the virus has infected 700 million people and killed 7 million (more than half-a-million have died in India alone); in September, over 80,000 covid-19 cases were reported every week from across the globe.
While the world appears to have reconciled to the idea of living with the virus, the spectre of another pandemic with a deadlier leash looms large. who has released a list of 30 viral and bacterial families, which can potentially cause epidemics and pandemics in the future. The world is shifting to a global regime of preparedness and effective responses to any such future pandemics or health emergencies. This May, countries at the 77th World Health Assembly (wha) agreed to the “Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Accord”, also called the Pandemic Treaty. It may be adopted at the next wha, which would take place in 2025.
In September, India took a step towards preparing for the future pandemics or public health emergencies of high magnitude, as an expert group set up by the government think-tank niti Aayog released the “Future Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response—a Framework for Action”. The terms of reference for the expert group were to “draw lessons and experiences, both national and global, on how covid was managed and visualise preparedness elements and future pathways for fighting any infectious public health crisis”.
Esta historia es de la edición October 16, 2024 de Down To Earth.
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Esta historia es de la edición October 16, 2024 de Down To Earth.
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The Golden 100 Days
India prepares battle blueprint for the next pandemic
CULINARY MASTERPIECE
The sour culinary melon from southern India remains underutilised despite nutritional benefits and a potential to provide food security
Over to panchayats
Can the government's move to align panchayat targets with UN's Sustainable Development Goals help India meet the global deadline?
Genetic rescue
Odisha to introduce two female tigers to Similipal forests to improve genetic diversity of its melanistic tiger population
Standing up for period rights
Women of Maharashtra's Madia tribe take steps to root out superstitions about menstruation, end the practice of living in isolation
PUT THE PATIENT FIRST
Draft guidelines on passive euthanasia exclude the interests of terminally ill patients: A letter to the Union health minister
Dead end
West Bengal moves to discontinue Kolkata’s trams despite calls to revive the city’s oldest and cleanest mode of transport
A river lost
Unchecked discharge of industrial effluents and inadequate sewage treatment facilities have turned the Hindon water toxic. ROHINI KRISHNAMURTHY tracks the river's journey though seven Uttar Pradesh districts, starting from its origin in Saharanpur
RECKLESS DISREGARD
India is set to expand seaweed cultivation along its coastline by promoting Kappaphycus alvarezii, a known invasive species that has smothered coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar over the past two decades. Should the country instead focus on its native species?
Joining The Carbon Club
India's carbon market will soon be a reality, but will it fulfil its aim of reducing emissions? A report by PARTH KUMAR and MANAS AGRAWAL