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”.
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In leading role again
MOVIES AND WEB SERIES ARE ONCE AGAIN BEING SET IN RUSTIC BACKGROUNDS, INDICATING A RECONNECT BETWEEN CINEMA AND THE COUNTRYSIDE
One Nation One Subscription comes at a huge cost
As top US universities scrap big deals with top scientific publishers, India’s ONOS scheme seems flawed and outdated
Return of Rambhog
Bid to revive and sell the aromatic indigenous paddy variety has led to substantial profits for farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Terai region
Scarred by mining
Natural springs of Kashmir drying up due to illegal riverbed mining
Human-to-human spread a mutation away
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True rehabilitation
Residents of Madhya Pradesh's Kakdi village take relocation as an opportunity to undertake afforestation, develop sustainable practices
INESCAPABLE THREAT
Chemical pollution is the most underrated and underreported risk of the 21st century that threatens all species and regions
THAT NIGHT, 40 YEARS AGO
Bhopal gas disaster is a tragedy that people continue to face
A JOKE, INDEED
A CONFERENCE OF IRRESPONSIBLE PARTIES THAT CREATED AN OPTICAL ILLUSION TO THE REALITY OF A NEW CLIMATE
THINGS FALL APART
THE WORLD HAS MADE PROGRESS IN MITIGATING EMISSIONS AND ADAPTING TO CLIMATE IMPACTS. BUT THE PROGRESS REMAINS GROSSLY INADEQUATE